The Ministry of Commerce in Saudi Arabia recently announced the arrest of 13 illegal workers who were involved in operating a commercial firm that specialized in trading expired seafood, in violation of the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law. This illegal activity was uncovered by inspection teams who seized a whopping 264 tons of seafood, including fish, shrimp, crab sticks, and crabs. Among the seized items were quantities of seafood with unknown origins and imported items. Additionally, over 800,000 containers used for packaging these products were confiscated.
The workers involved in this illegal operation were found to have falsified the expiry dates of imported fish and shrimp products, repackaging them with new dates and claiming that they were locally produced. They intended to sell these expired products to unsuspecting consumers. In response to this egregious violation, the Ministry of Commerce, along with joint security teams from the Riyadh Region Police, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, and the Riyadh Region Municipality, took swift action. They closed down the facility headquarters located in the Al-Murabba neighborhood in central Riyadh, as well as the warehouse in the Al-Sulay neighborhood, located east of Riyadh.
The arrested workers are now facing legal consequences as they have been referred to the Public Prosecution to complete the necessary legal procedures in accordance with the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law and the Anti-Concealment Law. All the seized items have been destroyed, and their distribution to sales outlets has been halted. The Ministry of Commerce has emphasized its commitment to combating violators of the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law and enforcing statutory penalties against them. These penalties can include up to three years in prison, fines of up to SR1 million, or both, along with publicizing the names of the convicts in local media at their own expense.
In addition to these penalties, illegal workers involved in such fraudulent activities risk deportation and being banned from returning to the Kingdom on work visas. This strict enforcement of the law is essential in maintaining consumer trust and ensuring the safety and quality of food products in the market. The Ministry of Commerce’s efforts to crack down on commercial fraud not only protect consumers from harmful and deceptive practices but also send a clear message to potential violators that such activities will not be tolerated.
The revelation of this illegal seafood trading operation underscores the importance of rigorous inspections and enforcement actions to safeguard public health and prevent the sale of expired and potentially harmful products. Consumers rely on regulatory agencies and enforcement authorities to monitor and police the market to ensure that products are safe for consumption. The collaboration between various agencies in uncovering and putting a stop to this fraudulent activity demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated efforts in enforcing laws and regulations.
Moving forward, the Ministry of Commerce will continue to work closely with other government agencies to root out illegal activities and protect consumers from unscrupulous practices in the market. By imposing strict penalties on violators and raising awareness about the consequences of commercial fraud, the Ministry aims to create a safer and more transparent trading environment for businesses and consumers alike. As the authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to combat fraudulent practices, consumers can have greater confidence in the safety and integrity of the products available in the market.
