Seven arrested as DCI busts counterfeit maize flour syndicate in Kasarani

The raid was conducted at a godown in the Canaan area, near Infinity Industrial Park in Kasarani Sub-County, following credible intelligence about a coordinated fake flour syndicate.

Investigations revealed that the godown had been turned into an illicit repackaging facility, which they called a covert factory of fraud, where various maize flour brands were repackaged and redistributed using counterfeit labels, misleading unsuspecting consumers about the authenticity and safety of the products.

Investigators were particularly alarmed by a stash of discarded one-kilogram packets bearing a striking resemblance to a well-known maize flour brand.

A representative of the affected company who arrived at the scene confirmed that the packaging closely resembled the firm’s branding.

However, he said the packets were unlikely to have been genuinely manufactured by the company, noting that the brand does not produce one-kilogram packages. 

The revelation raised further suspicion that the packaging was being used to exploit the branding of a trusted company.

Those arrested in the operation included Felix Kiprop, an employee of SARA Flour Brand; Cynthia Nakoli, a salesperson with the same brand; loaders Joseph Kariuki and Victor Omondi Opiyo; driver Daniel Ngugi; and Maria Ngui and Samuel Kimilu. All were caught at the scene as the operation unfolded.

During the raid, detectives recovered 3,682 packets of a popular maize flour brand valued at approximately Ksh. 312,120.

Hundreds of additional packets holding branding of three other well-known flour brands with a combined value running into hundreds of thousands of shillings were also identified. 

The scene revealed stacks of empty packaging holding the branding of several genuine maize flour companies and an array of industrial processing and packaging equipment. 

Investigators also found weighing machines, bag-sealing tools, and date and batch-marking stamps used to imprint false product information on counterfeit packaging, pointing to an operation set up to deceive consumers on a large scale.

A Hyundai lorry with registration number KBR 092K, was also caught red-handed being loaded with the counterfeit products at the premises.

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has been brought into the investigation and will sample the recovered products for further analysis.

Representatives of the affected companies have also pledged to present themselves to investigators for verification as the probe continues.

The seven suspects arrested during the raid are currently in custody as detectives process them ahead of arraignment, while the recovered items have been detained as exhibits.