ACA announces on-going crackdown to stop counterfeit facemasks from reaching first responders and hospital workers. 

Anti-Counterfeit Authority Inspectors have seized approximately 20,000 counterfeit face masks bearing the 3M Co. logo of a retail value of KSH 21 million. The raid at a leading hospital in Nairobi followed a tip-off by hospital officials about a suspicious supply by a company named John Gray Ltd.   

Hospital officials said the consignment was delivered to the hospital earlier this month and failed internal and quality and standard tests at the facility. The goods made in China marked one of the biggest single seizures of personal protective equipment since COVID 19 pandemic began. 

The Manager Enforcement Department at the Anti-Counterfeit Authority Mr. Lindsay Kipkemoi, who spearheaded the investigation, urged hospitals and medical facilities in the country to report suspected counterfeit supplies to the Authority.  

“We are living in unprecedented times of COVID 19 pandemic with thousands of Kenyans dead and affected from Covid-19. It is not only criminal to sell counterfeit personal protective equipment but morally evil to take advantage of this situation. We urge all Hospitals and medical facilities to report suspect supplies to ACA,” Mr. Kipkemoi said. 

Mr. Kipkemoi added that the products pose health and safety risks to first-line responders and to consumers since they provide a false sense of security to users.  

3M Co. is a manufacturer of N95 masks, which have emerged as critical protection tools for front-line healthcare workers.  A 3M Agent thanked the Anti-Counterfeit Authority for the continued war against counterfeit goods in the country. The Agent said grammatical errors or typos on packaging or user instructions are telltale signs of counterfeit items.   

The goods were seized and taken to the Anti-Counterfeit Depot pending further investigation to have the owner/s of the Company identified and charged. Under the Anti-Counterfeit Act 2008, it is an offence to trade in counterfeit goods. If convicted, the suspect faces up to 5 years in prison or a fine of a minimum of 3 times the value of the original goods.