Thousands of Counterfeit HP Products Seized in Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania

HP, together with local authorities has seized close to 200,000 counterfeit products in Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania

The products include fake HP printer cartridges and components that were meant to be used to assemble further counterfeits. 

Since October 2019, authorities have disrupted both wholesalers and retailers of fake products through a series of raids carried out in retail outlets, warehouses and manufacturing facilities across the region. 

In Kenya, HP and authorities successfully seized 5,400 counterfeit toner cartridges from 12 retail outlets in February 2020. In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania between October 2019 and March 2020, a series of raids resulted in the confiscation of approximately 185,000 illicit items. One of the raids was initiated following a Customer Delivery Inspection (CDI), a unique, free protection service available to HP’s large and medium customers, whereby if a customer suspects that counterfeit products have been included in a shipment of supplies, HP will check the products on site and act accordingly. While in Nigeria in March 2020, authorities worked with HP to confiscate 7,100 illicit items in a series of outlet shop raids.

“HP is dedicated to protecting our customers from illegal activity, and safeguarding them from unknowingly purchasing fake products.” said Elisabeth Moreno, Vice President & Managing Director, Africa, HP. “The excellent work of authorities in Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, in collaboration with HP, is something we are extremely proud of. The number of seizures that have come out of the African region over the last few months is astonishing and demonstrates the continued necessity of our Anti-Counterfeit and Fraud Programme.”

Counterfeiting is a crime. Illegal imitations of products can cause a multitude of problems that may result in performance and reliability issues. In addition, should a printer break due to the use of counterfeit printer ink or toner, for example, manufacture warranties may be rendered invalid.

In contrast, HP says its products are designed to meet HP’s strict quality and reliability standards, based on a long history of inventing and testing. 

Across EMEA over the last five years, approximately 12 million counterfeits and components have been seized by local authorities, supported by HP. HP has conducted over 4,500 audits and inspections (CPPAs and CDIs) of partners’ stocks or suspicious deliveries for customers.

Through HP’s Anti-Counterfeiting and Fraud (ACF) Programme, the company actively educates its customers and partners to be vigilant against fake printing supplies. It also cooperates closely with local and global law enforcement authorities to detect and dismantle illegal operations that produce counterfeit HP printing components.

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