FCC Seizes Counterfeit Mobile Phones Woth TZS 72.5m/-

PRESS RELEASE

FCC Seize Counterfeit Mobile Phones Worth TZS 72.25m/-

Dar es Salaam, 13^th September, 2014. The Fair Competition Commission has conducted a search and seizure operation in Kariakoo Central Business District in six shops and seized counterfeited Samsung and Blackberry mobile phones.

The search and seizure operation which was conducted in six shops on 11^th September, 2014 led to confiscation of 289 pieces of counterfeit Samsung and Blackberry mobile phones valued at TShs 72,250,000.

Further investigation revealed that the actual sale value is hardly 1/4^th the actual price of genuine counterparts of the seized gadgets, but the same are sold in genuine packages despite being themselves counterfeits.

The shops in which the gadgets were seized are owned by Hamadi Bakari Hamadi (27 pcs), Hamadi Juma Musa (62pcs & 47 empty boxes), Fatuma Gharib Mohammed (72pcs and 5 batteries), Jarade Zahor Mohammed (47pcs), Selemani Juman Selemani (35pcs) and Bakari J. Khatib (44pcs and one unbranded piece imitating Samsung and one piece imitating Blackberry).

Seizure notices were 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 seizure operation, after making a detailed investigation on the suspected shops.

The search and seizure operation is an on-going exercise. To that end, FCC warns all traders and merchandise importers to desist from importing, transporting, purchasing from false agents and trading in counterfeit goods, since the same is a criminal offence attracting heavy penalties in terms of fines and jail-terms.

The Director General of FCC is the Chief Inspector of the Merchandise Marks Act charged with the responsibility of spearheading the fight against counterfeit goods in the Tanzania Mainland market. The Act confers upon the Chief inspector powers to search and inspect goods in all entry points and privately owned premises suspected to stock counterfeit goods.

The Chief inspector is also mandated to seize suspected counterfeit goods and proof of counterfeit status, to institute penalties in terms of statutory fines and charge destruction fees on offenders.

Issued today, 13^th September, 2014 by the MMA Chief Inspector

Frederick Ringo

MMA CHIEF INSPECTOR