Police in Juja, Kiambu County Tuesday confiscated counterfeit liquor labeled as genuine brands during a raid on an illegal distillery.
The liquor had been packed in bottles bearing various brands of some established distillers in the market.
Among the liquor recovered valued over Sh 600,000 were brands labelled as Kibao Vodka, Triple Ace, Aquila Premium, People Vodka and 70 litres of ethanol as well as fake KRA and KEBS stamps.
Two people were arrested during the operation that was conducted by a multi-agency team involving Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) at a private residence in Maeka Estate Tuesday evening.
Kiambu County Police Commander Muchangi Kioi who led officers in the operation, said the owner of the highly secured residence escaped arrest by jumping over a perimeter wall, but police are pursuing him.
He said they also impounded a car that was found in the compound believed to be used for distributing the alcohol and that it will be used as exhibit in court.
Kioi further said the brews are lethal and may have caused harm including death to some of the consumers.
He said the illicit brewers were operating under unhygienic conditions without following the requisite distillation procedures.
He added that the harmful drinks find their way in bars along the Eastern Bypass, Ruiru, Juja, Thika and Gatundu among other areas.
“We are in pursuit of the owner of the residence and three more accomplices whom we have leads about and it is only a matter of time before they are arrested,” he said.
The commander called on alcohol users in the county to be wary of fake brands to avoid drinking brews that are often laced with poisonous substances.
