- Detectives raid a Muthua homestead in Kabete following a tip from a member of the public
- Two men are arrested as officers uncover a suspected counterfeit juice operation
- Bottles, packaging materials and other items are seized during the operation
Detectives in Kabete have shut down a counterfeit juice factory hidden in a Muthua homestead and arrested two men on the spot.
What looked like an ordinary home in Muthua, Kabete, was secretly producing fake juice. A vigilant member of the public blew the whistle, according to a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Acting on the tip, detectives from Kabete Police Station moved in quickly. Inside the homestead, they found Alex Mwaruta and James Munala Inyangala in the middle of production. Both men were arrested immediately.
A search of the premises then revealed the true scale of the setup. Officers recovered about 1,400 filled bottles of suspected counterfeit juice in 200ml and 300ml sizes. They also seized 56 cartons of empty bottles, five packets of bottle tops, two blue drums and three basins in assorted colours.
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Equally telling was the packaging kit. Detectives found office glue, rubber stamps, ink and assorted stickers. Among the items was an expired certificate authorising the use of the Standardisation Mark for a popular juice brand. In addition, officers recovered powdery and colourless substances packed in polythene bags, in portions of 50 grams. Some of the substances were also packed inside 200ml and 300ml bottles.
Subsequently, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) detectives processed the scene. All recovered items were secured as exhibits.
Mwaruta and Inyangala remain in custody while investigations continue.
The DCI warned that counterfeit beverages made in unregulated and unhygienic conditions put unsuspecting consumers at serious health risk. Moreover, such illegal operations undermine legitimate manufacturers. They also rob the government of rightful tax revenue.
By Benedict Aoya
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