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Fake Smart Phones Seized in Dar Shops(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) THE Fair Competition Commission (FCC) has conducted a 'search and confiscate' operation in Kariakoo Central Business District in six shops and seized counterfeited 'Samsung' and 'Blackberry' mobile phones worth 72.3m/-. According to the press statement issued by the commission, the operation conducted last Thursday, involved six shops and led to the confiscation of 289 pieces of counterfeit 'Samsung' and 'Blackberry' mobile phones. Further investigations revealed that the actual sale value was hardly a quarter of the actual price of genuine counterparts of the seized gadgets, although the same are sold in genuine packages despite being counterfeits themselves. The shops in which the gadgets were seized,according to the statement, were owned by Hamadi Bakari Hamadi (27 pieces), Hamadi Juma Musa (62 pieces and 47 empty boxes), Fatuma Gharib Mohammed (72 pieces and 5 batteries), Jarade Zahor Mohammed (47 pieces), Selemani J.Selemani (35 pieces) and Bakari J. Khatib (44 pieces); as well and one unbranded piece of 'Samsung' imitation and one piece of 'Blackberry' imitation. Notices for the exercise had been served to all parties whose shops were caught stocking counterfeit brands of mobile gadgets and police statements for the same have also been taken at Msimbazi Police Station for further legal action. The respondents are destined to comply with the enforcement provisions of the Merchandise Marks Act which entail paying statutory fines and the costs of destruction of seized counterfeit items. A Nairobi based Brand Protection Agency, M/S Anti Illicit Trade, prompted the search and confiscation operation, after making a detailed investigation on the suspected shops. FFC pointed out in the statement that the search and confiscation operation was an ongoing exercise. To that end, the commission has warned all traders and merchandise importers to desist from importing, transporting, purchasing from false agents and trading in counterfeit goods since the same was a criminal offence attracting heavy penalties in terms of fine and jail sentences. FCC, among other things, is entitled with the responsibility of spearheading the fight against counterfeit goods on the Tanzania Mainland market. The laws establishing the commission allows the Director General to search and inspect goods in all entry points and privately-owned premises suspected to stock counterfeit goods. The commission is also mandated to seize suspected counterfeit goods and proof of counterfeit status, institute penalties in terms of statutory fines and charge destruction fees on offenders. Copyright Tanzania Daily News. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |