Two Arrested as Counterfeit Juice Factory Busted in Kabete
Two suspects have been arrested after detectives raided a suspected counterfeit juice production facility in Muthua, Kabete, Kiambu County.
The operation followed a tip-off from a member of the public who alerted the police about suspicious activities at a homestead in the area.
Detectives from Kabete Police Station acted on the information and visited the premises, where they found two men, Alex Mwaruta and James Munala Inyangala, allegedly in the process of producing counterfeit juice.
The two suspects were arrested during the operation, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
A subsequent search of the homestead uncovered what detectives described as a fully fledged counterfeiting operation.
The DCI said detectives recovered approximately 1,400 filled 200ml and 300ml bottles of suspected counterfeit juice.
They also recovered 56 cartons of empty bottles, five packets of bottle tops, two blue drums and three basins of assorted colours.
Other items recovered included office glue, rubber stamps and ink, assorted stickers and an expired certificate authorising the use of the Standardisation Mark for a well-known juice brand.
Detectives also found assorted powdery and colourless substances packed in polythene bags in 50-gram portions, as well as similar substances stored in 200ml and 300ml bottles.
The scene was processed by detectives from the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) unit, while the recovered items were secured as exhibits.
The two suspects remain in custody as investigations into the suspected counterfeit operation continue.
The DCI warned that beverages produced in unregulated and unhygienic environments can pose serious health risks to consumers.
The agency also noted that counterfeit products undermine legitimate manufacturers and deny the government revenue through illegal trade.
“The DCI remains relentless in trailing down counterfeiters and dismantling the networks behind the trade,” the agency said.
