RIYADH: Around 45,000 counterfeit consumer goods, including cosmetics, sanitary ware and automotive parts, were confiscated from different warehouses in Riyadh.

The fake goods were discovered during a routine inspection carried out by a special team from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) as part of its anti-fraud campaign.

The seized goods included fake brands of shampoo, body cream, large quantities of sanitary ware and auto parts.

Authorities booked the owners of the warehouses and employees for producing counterfeit consumer goods in flagrant violation of the Kingdom’s commercial laws.

According to an official from the ministry, these items were stored in Al-Deira district. Some items, made in China, were packed in containers bearing famous brandnames, such as “Head & Shoulders,” “Pantene,” Sun Silk,” “Claire” and “Dove.”

In a separate incident, ministry inspectors shut down a warehouse in Al-Faisaliah district, in the south of Riyadh, for its involvement in forging auto parts, where more than 15,000 parts were confiscated which included brake-pads bearing the brand name “AC Delco.”

Samples were taken for necessary verification of the trademark. The owner of the warehouse w nistry stressed that it will not tolerate such fraudulent practices and it is committed to enforcing stringent measures against such traders who are trying to earn a fast buck at the expense of consumers.

The ministry also called on all consumers to report their complaints and observations to the notification center at the ministry on 1900 or in writing to the commercial notification center at the ministry.