Are you a liquor lover? If yes, then you need to be cautious when consuming liqour at a night out or with them boys. Africa Spirit Limited based in Thika lands itself in hot soup as the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have launched investigations into its activities. This is after large consignments of counterfeit excise stamps and suspected illicit ethanol were found within their premises. Africa Spirits is a licensed manufacturer of portable spirits including Glen Rock, Legend Black, Blue Moon, Legend Brandy, Gypsy King and Furaha.
In a statement by KRA yesterday, arrangements are in progress to seal the premises to enable in-depth investigations into the racket. An estimated 21 million counterfeit excise stamps and 312,000 litres of illicit products valued at Sh1.2 billion in estimated tax were seized during the operations which commenced on January 31.
The factory’s production manager was arraigned in court and detained for seven days to facilitate further investigations. Inspector General Joseph Boinnet said the company was possibly evading tax and manufacturing counterfeit products that could be harmful for human consumption. “We were alerted of the possibility that they are manufacturing fake and counterfeit liquor and a possibility of tax evasion and that is why the DCI and our colleagues from KRA decided to pick up on that information, mounted an operation and confirmed our suspicions,” Boinnet said during a press briefing on Friday.
“This is a case of massive tax evasion and manufacture of outright fake and counterfeit products that imperil the health of those of us who consume alcoholic beverages,” he further said. The Directors of the Company and other senior management are also being sought. The operation is part of the government’s ongoing campaign against illicit trade aimed at ensuring compliance with tax and consumer protection laws.