Detectives arrested a prime suspect believed to be behind the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit liquor and tax evasion.

The arrest came after police intercepted a vehicle ferrying counterfeit alcohol and arrested the driver as they intensified the crackdown on illegal drinks.


The police who acted on intelligence zeroed in on the vehicle in Nairobi City County and arrested its driver identified as Mathuku Maingi.

After his arrest, Maingi later led the detectives to their bottle collection yard where used bottles of various liquor brands are assembled after being dumped and refilled with counterfeit drinks.

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Further investigations led to the arrest of the prime suspect behind the high-level tax evasion scheme identified as Nelius Wambui.

Nelius Wambui. PHOTO/DCI

Wambui was placed in custody as police continued with the investigations.

The police also impounded over 170 cartons containing thousands of bottles of counterfeit spirits destined for the local market.


They were packaged in bottles of popular liquor brands such as Smart Vodka, Konyagi, Tripple Ace, Kibao and others.


This arrest came within hours of a police raid on an illegal distillery in Nairobi’s Njiru area.

The ongoing operation follows a recent directive by President William Ruto to the police, to conduct intelligence-led operations targeting counterfeit goods.


This comes after it was discovered that crooked businessmen had devised new ways of evading taxation.

The suspects will be arraigned in court on Wednesday.