Zambian police expand fake Samsung crackdown

ZAMBIA

By Edith Mwale, Lusaka, Zambia

The Zambian police have embarked on a nationwide confiscation of fake Samsung handsets following a successful operation in Lusaka and the Copperbelt provinces.

The police together with the Zambia Bureau of Standards officers confiscated over 2,600 fake Samsung phone a few days ago in the two provinces. Police estimates that the phones that were confiscated are worth more than USD1.5 million.

Intellectual Property specialist Kingsley Nkonde,  who was involved in the crackdown said the operation would soon be carried out in Solwezi, a mining town in the western part of the country, which he said was also falling prey to traders of counterfeit mobile phones because of the booming economic activity taking place in the district.

Nkonde said security officers and other relevant wings are closely monitoring the situation and will work hard to rid the country of counterfeit products and urged brand owners to ensure that they protect their products.

The confiscation of the counterfeit mobile phones and other fake products, Nkonde said, will soon be extended to other parts of the country.

“Government loses huge sums of money through the sale of fake products which are smuggled into the country,” Nkonde said.

Nkonde attributed the rise in the number of fake mobile phones to the rising demand for the affordable mobile phones.

The operation to confiscate the counterfeit cell phones was carried out simultaneously in Lusaka and the Copperbelt provinces.

The suspects have been charged with the sale of goods bearing forged trademark and false trademark description, contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

Police deputy spokesperson Charity Chanda said the suspects have further been charged with being in possession of goods bearing infringed copyright and performance.