Anti-Counterfeit agency seizes counterfeits phones worth Sh40m

The Anti-Counterfeit Agency inspectors have seized counterfeits Samsung Phones worth Sh40 million along Luthuli Avenue in Nairobi.

The officers pounced into mobile electronic Shops and also arrested three suspects in a major crackdown of Samsung counterfeits mobile phones that have flooded the Kenya’s electronic market.

The Investigators from the Anti –Illicit Trade Agency led the officers to unearth a large mobile phone syndicate in the city after a tip by the Samsung Agents.  

The Anti-Illicit Trade Agency officials who operate along the East African bloc claimed that some unscrupulous business people have infringed the Samsung trade mark making the product to lose its market value for genuine Samsung phones.

The Inspectors attached to the agency led by Abraham Mugambi raided stall along the Luthuli Avenue and seized Samsung Counterfeit mobile phones and accessories in a shop.

“We manage to break into the shop after we obtained a court order despite some resistances from the shop owners. We seized several cartons of fake Samsung mobile phones and other accessories and made arrest of the suspects. This counterfeit trade must be fought to the end,” Mugambi said.

Mugambi said they are also questioning three suspects over the source of fake Samsung mobile phones that have infiltrated into the Kenyan largest mobile electronic market. He regretted that the vice has denied the Country revenue.

The Director of the Anti-Illicit Trade Agency Peter Mutula warned the counterfeiters to desist from importing counterfeit mobile Samsung phones to the East Africa market. He said the agencies both private and State owned Corporations have put spirited efforts to stamp out the vice.

“It’s unfortunate that most counterfeiters evade paying taxes by smuggling fake Samsung products to the Country. We warn them that their days are numbered. We want to make sure the consumers of the product get value of their money,”Mutula said.