Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Nine people comprising nationals of Burundi, Congo DR and Zambia have been arrested in Lusaka by the police for counterfeit production of white spoon sugar.
Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo says the nine suspects are yet to be charged and that investigations into the matter have continued with the hope of arresting more suspects.
Ms Katongo narrates that the Zambia Police Service Intellectual Property Unit conducted an operation in Lusaka’s Zanimuone West and City Market after receiving a complaint from Zambia Sugar Plc, the legitimate holders of White spoon Sugar product, that their product was being counterfeited.
She explains that during the operation conducted on Monday,4th June, officers raided a house in Zanimuone West and a number of Wholesales at City market where they found empty packs of 1kg, 2kg sugar and 378 x 50Kg empty sacks labeled white spoon sugar which were being used to package raw sugar and Hullet sun sweet sugar which is believed to have been imported from other countries and was being repacked in Zambia sugar packages.
Ms Katongo says the product was later being sold in wholesales at City market.
She says officers also seized some weighing scales, ink pads, a date stamp, stitching machines and cotton, a sealing machine, 164x50kgs refined sugar while some sugar was found spread on a tent in one of the rooms, 85 cases containing 20 packets of 2kg sugar, 31cases by 20 packets of 1 Kilogram sugar and 37 cases by 10 packets of 2 Kg sugar all suspected to be counterfeit sugar.
The Police Spokesperson says the total value of seized items is K126, 893.60.