A Combined team of the Zambia Police Service Intellectual Property [IP] Unit and other security agencies have unearthed a multi million Kwacha scam of counterfeit drinks manufactured in Lusaka’s Zingalume area.
This is the second largest successful operation that security agencies have made in Lusaka in the recent past, the first being an illegal manufacturing plant in Chinika area discovered early last year.
One suspect has since been arrested in connection with the Zingalume scam which is believed to have been going on since the year 2006.
The combined team of security personnel that stormed the area following a tip off from members of the public also impounded a truck loaded with fake carbonated drinks destined for Southern Province.
The drinks seized are under the brand of Ziee and Taico lemonade drinks.
Intellectual Property (IP) Specialist, Kingsley Nkonde who led the team, has confirmed the development in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
Mr. Nkonde said the combined team of security officers raided three separate houses in Zingalume and seized large consignments of drinks.
The team that went into the operation area shortly after mid night also seized huge consignments of empty bottles and other packaging materials.
“We have impounded one Fuso truck loaded with fake drinks destined for Southern Province,” said Mr. Nkonde.
Mr. Nkonde said the government has lost millions of Kwacha through unpaid tax.
The IP specialist also said other than the government losing millions of Kwacha through unpaid tax, the dealers were also risking the lives of the unsuspecting customers by manufacturing such products in unhealthy conditions.
He warned that security agencies will not rest to ensure that the country is rid of counterfeit products.
Large consignments of chemicals used in the manufacturing of drinks which are added to the drinks without following any specifications have also been seized.
The team further discovered that a total of 300 drinks are made daily with the market being mainly outside Lusaka.
Police service spokesperson Bonny Kapeso when contacted for a comment said he had not yet reached the office.
Mr. Kapeso promised to issue a statement later.
ZANIS/ENDS/JM/EB.
This is a poisonous concortion. Health hazard indeed.
Evrything regarding counterfeit fimofimo happens muma combon
Teti wanwa ne misu sure! This is too much. Thats why its dangerous for one to like tasting, tasting ant new drink that comes on the market. Imagine the name of the drink, ati zieee! Kwaliba? Zieee?
Ziee sounds Zambianish atleast u can give it a beefit of doubt,nomba Taico? I suspect thts chinese brands pantu natupena ati investors.Bakatunwisha na acid pa last. Ichalo ichi
Baini? Taico! Kwati ninsapato. We need to do something about these investors mama. Mwamona umusebo waku Chirundu. Tema Chinese bene?
The culprits should be locked up. Forget the millions that government is losing in unpaid taxes, these chaps are really putting people’s lives at risk!
Jus the names of the brands leaves so much to be desired.Lesa twafweni
if you want a degree,diploma,certificate,driving license,marriage certificate,bank statement or any official document or date stamp go to matero,cosmetics and related products chinika, so now it’s drinks zingalume.zambia yashupa kwashalafye ukupanga kwacha.
you should have done the same thing to the GMO maize from SA, or is it because the people involved are no of relation to RB? We need to be fair in fighting such, GMOs also put peoples lives at risk. if something is risk then its risk wheather GMOs or drinks.
No wonder people are dying daily
Man no sober…….hope they don´t have any side effect so those who took em wouldn´t be sick after a while
What is really the offence here? Is it because the ‘company’ has cost GRZ millions in unpaid taxes or because the comapny makes drinks that are similar to a popular foreign company that must be protected? From what I read, this ‘fake’ company markets its drinks under the trade names Ziee and Taico lemonade drinks. As to the owners of these trade names, the article is silent. If the trade name are the creation of the ‘fake’ Zingalume company, then I do not see anything counterfeit. The only thing is that the drinks are similar, just as Pepsi and other cola are similar to Coca Cola.
If the drinks are popular, why not help the company and make it operate within the confines of the law instead of ‘killing’ it like we did with the TipTop drinks. Let it be known that these foreign companies will do everything to protect their products from any apparent competition. We need Zambian initiated drinks to provide compettion to Zambia Breweries, then we will begin to see the price of its products drop to affordable level. By the way, if ten people (Zambians) can come together and contribute $10,000 each or 20 people contributing $5,000 each, they can buy a mini brewering plant (new). Interested? let me know I will give a link for further information. Zambians need to take…
I cant agree with you more. These drinks are not counterfeit nor fake if they re operating under their own name. They may not be operating in sanitary or hygienic environments, but then thay is a different matter and should be addressed by different authorities. It is possible that they may have the potential of becoming legitimate businesses offering employment to many and tax revenue to the state
Yangu uli nazelu maningi ..I think you should become our minister of commerce.I don’t see any wrong with these local investors especially with the credit crunch.What is fake about there drink.. is it invisible? Don’t crucify these people just help them with proper formulation of their drink company ,that is how Coca Cola stated
Yamene iyi Zingalume Drink from the names one can tell ‘ati niyonzuna manigi’
Iwe naiwe siumvela maningi! Ati drink niyonzuna?
Nikuonela che kuzina,nkani yamu kachasu!
What happened to cyclone issue Mr. jere and Mr. Nkonde kngsley? why are you leaving serious indian criminals? Is it because of money?
We are watching what happened to the seized goods and yet cyclone continues to roam the streets. on’t hide behind the offices one day your jobs will end no matter what so what is important is how you leave: on your feet or on your knees! we are watching get the real culprits not poor zambian souls in chazanga!
Aha i remember that case do something and by the way jayzee its Dr. S jere frm zp.
Flash these dirty indian criminals or if you are found wanting you know what is happenin to your kind, no state functions! And no bail.
the name says it all,ati zeee