A shopkeeper in Bangale, Tana River County, was arrested on Saturday for selling counterfeit products to unsuspecting victims. The suspect, aged 40 years, was accused of packaging sand in branded packets and selling it as wheat flour.
The incident unfolded when the suspect sold seven bales of a branded baking floor worth Ksh11,900 to an unsuspecting retailer. However, the retailer became suspicious of the product when he noticed that it was unusually heavy. Upon opening one of the bales, he was shocked to discover that it contained sand instead of wheat flour.
The retailer immediately reported the matter to the police, who raided the suspect’s shop and arrested him. Police also seized the remaining bales of counterfeit wheat flour.
The suspect is currently being held at the Bangale police station pending investigations. He is expected to be charged with fraud and selling counterfeit products.
This incident highlights the need for consumers to be vigilant when purchasing goods. Consumers should always check the packaging and labels of products carefully to ensure that they are genuine. They should also report any suspected counterfeit products to the police.
In addition to the above, here are some additional tips for consumers to avoid purchasing counterfeit products:
- Buy products from reputable retailers.
- Be wary of products that are sold at significantly lower prices than the market rate.
- Do not purchase products from street vendors or unlicensed sellers.
- Check the packaging and labels of products carefully to ensure that they are genuine.
- Report any suspected counterfeit products to the police.