Tanzania fears drug barons' move into counterfeits

Authorities in Tanzania are reportedly concerned that powerful drug barons have moved actively into the lucrative business of importing counterfeit goods via the country's capital Dar-es-Salaam. The country has seen an unprecedented upsurge in sales of counterfeit products. Since March 2007, according to the Fair Competition Commission, fake products worth over Tsh200 million (US$180,000) have been seized and destroyed. These included electrical goods, tube lights, energy savers, extension cables, bulbs and shoe polish, not to mention 240 cartons of TV sets and 404 cartons of loudspeakers. Apart from infringing IP rights, the importers of these goods evade taxation or under-declare their value at the point of importation.