What looked like an ordinary homestead in Muthua, Kabete, was being used as a clandestine juice factory, until a vigilant member of the public blew the whistle.
Acting on the information, detectives from Kabete Police Station responded swiftly. At the homestead, they found two men, Alex Mwaruta and James Munala Inyangala in the middle of producing counterfeit juice. Both were arrested on the spot.
A search of the homestead then peeled back the layers of the operation, revealing what appeared to be a fully fledged counterfeiting setup. Detectives recovered approximately 1,400 filled 200ml and 300ml bottles of suspected counterfeit juice, alongside 56 cartons of empty bottles, five packets of bottle tops, two blue drums and three assorted-colour basins.
Also recovered were office glue, rubber stamps and ink, assorted stickers, an expired certificate authorising the use of the Standardisation Mark for a well-known juice brand, as well as assorted powdery and colourless substances packed in polythene bags in 50-gram portions and in 200ml and 300ml bottles.
The scene was subsequently processed by detectives from the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI), while the recovered items were secured as exhibits.
The two suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.
Counterfeit beverages produced in unregulated and unhygienic environments can expose unsuspecting consumers to serious health risks. Such illegal operations also undermine legitimate manufacturers and deprive the government of rightful tax revenue.
The DCI remains relentless in trailing down counterfeiters and dismantling the networks behind the trade.
