A ton of counterfeit flour seized
The Ministry of Commerce has cracked down on a group of foreign workers of Arab nationality involved in fraudulent activities related to subsidized flour products. They were caught repackaging the flour in containers with fake brand names, intending to market and sell them for quick profits.
During inspections, it was discovered that the flour was stored in an unhygienic manner, leading to the presence of insects. Consequently, all the seized quantities were confiscated due to the potential health hazards they posed to consumers.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources, the General Food Security Authority, and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the Ministry of Commerce took action to shut down a non-compliant warehouse located in the Faisaliyah neighborhood in southern Riyadh.
The owner of the facility has been summoned for questioning regarding suspicions of engaging in commercial concealment, and appropriate legal measures will be taken against them in accordance with the regulations.
The seized items included 1,500 empty bags ready for repackaging with fake brand names, 100 bags of flour weighing 10 kilograms each, and various tools used for deceptive practices, such as post-packaging sewing machines, date printing machines, and weighing instruments.
The Ministry of Commerce stressed its commitment to enforcing stringent penalties on individuals involved in fraudulent activities that jeopardize the health and safety of consumers. The Anti-Commercial Fraud Law imposes penalties of up to three years in prison, financial fines of up to one million riyals, or both, along with publicizing the names of violators at their expense and deporting non-compliant labor.