A Sting operation nabbed four traders suspected to be behind the illicit trade in Nairobi Central District (CBD).
The crackdown led by Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) in collaboration with the Police arrested the four suspects with fake electronic products worth Ksh 5 million on Thursday night, July 15.
The traders operate four wholesales along Ronald Ngala Avenue. The four have stocked the outlets with suspected fake mobile phones accessories such as phone chargers, headsets, phone back covers, and earphones bearing brands of big companies like 'Samsung.'
The crackdown was made following complaints raised by the members of the public who have visited the outlets only to buy substandard accessories.
The ACA sounded a big warning to other traders who are in the same business who managed to escape the dragnet.
In May 2021, another trader was fined Ksh 80,000 after being found in possession of uncustomed goods contrary to the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004.
Milimani Principal Magistrate David Ndunge found the trader Francis Kariuki Macharia guilty of being in possession of 6000 bottles of 300 ml Azam energy drinks that were uncustomed and of a customs value of Ksh155,000.
He also faced a charge of being in possession of excisable goods without excise stamps which is contrary to Excise Duty (Excisable Goods Management System Regulations, 2017).
In another instance, a Nairobi businessman was charged with conspiracy to defraud a foreigner of over Ksh170 million claiming he would supply 500 kilograms of genuine gold.
Elvis Ouma Muga alias Nick appeared before Milimani Magistrate David Ndungi and denied the charges.
