MCI Field Inspection and Control Teams seized more than 1.7 million (Swak), unhealthy and unfit to be used by humans for brushing teeth, in a residential apartment in Makkah. This apartment was secretly transferred to a plant run by illegal labors.
In details, MCI inspection teams received a tip about transferring an apartment into a plant without any license for preparing "Swak". The illegal labors used to collect old "Swak", then they used to wash it, make it wet and pack it in deflated plastic bags in a primitive and unhealthy way. Accordingly, (1,737,928) million "Swak" were seized, as well as (1600) empty cartons used for packing, also (143,000) counterfeit stickers, bearing forged trademarks. All the fake items were confiscated, and the illegal labors were handed over to the police, while the owner of the apartment was summoned by MCI for further investigation.
The Ministry of Commerce and Investment confirms the continuation of addressing those violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law by taking stern measures and imposing the legal penalties against them, in view of the fraud and deception towards the consumers. The Rules & Regulations related to Anti-Commercial Fraud Law stipulates penalties that may reach to three-year imprisonment, fines up to one million riyals or both , Defamation in two local newspapers at the expense of the violator, deportation of the illegal labors from the Kingdom, besides the suspension and prevention of practicing the same commercial activity.
MCI calls on all consumers to lodge their complaints or observations through MCI Consumer Call Center (1900), or through the application of a Commercial Violation Report, or via the Ministry's website.