Police arrest two persons of interest after counterfeit juice factory raid in Kabete

Police have arrested two men, Alex Mwaruta and James Munala Inyangala, in a raid on a suspected counterfeit juice factory in Kabete. The officers, who received a tip-off, found the pair allegedly operating a counterfeiting operation in a residential area. During the search, authorities uncovered an extensive operation, recovering around 1,400 bottles of suspected fake juice, 56 cartons of empty containers, five packets of bottle tops, two blue drums, and three basins in various colors.

Additionally, detectives seized office glue, rubber stamps, ink, stickers, and an expired license allowing the use of a popular juice brand's trademark. Crucial items seized included suspicious powders and colorless substances in small plastic bags, as well as the bottles themselves. The Crime Scene Investigation unit processed the scene, while the seized materials were preserved as evidence.

Both suspects remain in police custody as investigations proceed. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations warned that the production of counterfeit beverages in unregulated and unsanitary conditions poses significant health risks to unsuspecting consumers and harms legitimate manufacturers while depriving the government of much-needed tax revenue. The DCI pledged to continue its efforts in identifying and dismantling counterfeiters' networks.