RIYADH: The authorities have seized more than 20,000 containers of counterfeit Dettol, which were being openly sold in the market.

An inspection team from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) found the containers in a holiday resort in a suburb of Riyadh.

The unlicensed factory was run by a team of illegal workers under a Saudi sponsor.

Upon inspecting the site, 20,000 empty containers ready to be refilled were seized. Another 2,000 containers were ready for distribution in the local market. There were two tanks which could hold one ton of antiseptic liquid and another which could accommodate 200 kg. There was a large number of empty cartons to be packed in the fake Dettol containers.

The illegal workers and the Saudi involved in the operation have been summoned for formal inquiry by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

If found guilty, the suspects will be penalized under the commerce concealment regulations which include fines as well as jail terms.

From time to time, the MCI carries out comprehensive inspection campaigns on markets through its branches in the Kingdom. The aim is to detect and confiscate counterfeit goods, and to reveal the manipulation of trusting consumers.

MCI would like to emphasize that its inspection tours take place in markets, warehouses, shops and all commercial establishments in order to verify their legal operations.

The ministry calls on all consumers to lodge their complaints, observations and suspected cases of fraud or counterfeiting by calling the toll free number 1900, or through the application of a commercial notification.