46 slot gambling machines alongside 62 cartons of illicit second-generation alcohol have been seized in Machakos County.
The outlawed gambling machines were destroyed through burning at Machakos County police commander Patrick Lobolia’s office compound in Machakos town on Tuesday.
The destruction conducted by the county security team officials was presided over by ACC1 Judy Njoroge who presented Machakos County Commissioner Josephine Ouko in the exercise.
Njoroge said the consignments were seized during a swoop by a multiagency team within Machakos town on Monday night.
“This morning we want to appreciate the county security team led by the county police commander and county criminal investigations officer who had a raid yesterday and managed to seize 62 cartons of counterfeited second-generation liquor alongside 46 slot gambling machines,” Njoroge said.
She spoke during a joint presser during the destruction.
“We want to send a stern warning through the county commissioner’s office that anybody involved in either selling or drinking the counterfeit alcohol will face the full wrath of the law,” Njoroge said.
The administrator urged the security team to be more vigilant and asked the public to help in making more arrests by volunteering information on criminals to relevant authorities in the region.
“Help us make the arrests. The security team is always alert. Kindly give us information,” Njoroge said.
She lauded KRA for inventing a ‘Soma lebo’ App that makes it possible for one to scan code stickers in alcohol bottles to detect whether they are legitimate or not.
“Take advantage of such Apps to scan bottles including those for bottled water,” Njoroge said.
Njoroge said gambling machines destroy both homes and the country’s economy.
She said counterfeits kill innocent Kenyans who consume such liquor.
They also destroy the economy since they deny the government revenue noting that those involved in counterfeiting of products evade paying taxes.
Lobolia said the netted alcohol was lethal since it contained methanol and ethanol yet not brewed.
He said the owner of the liquor store was arrested during the operations. Seventeen other drunk people were also nabbed.
“These are dangerous substances being consumed by the public directly. This affects the society, it’s our duty to tell the public effects of these alcohol, betting machines and all these illicit businesses going around,” Lobolia said.
“The public, please tell us where these illicit businesses are going on since we have told you their effects. Don’t say that the police know,” he said.
He said they would finish illegal businesses in Machakos.
The police boss said the alcohol and gambling machines were confiscated from certain joints at Machakos stage within Machakos town.
“That’s where travelers including students pass while going to board public service vehicles at the bus stage. They laid strategies to get all these people,” Lobolia said.
