Over 700 Counterfeit HP Items Seized in Kenya and Tanzania

Global computer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard (HP) together with local authorities have managed to nab more than 700 illicit items in Kenya and Tanzania.

The crackdown was made after officials identified over ten major sources of counterfeit HP products in Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam and Mwanza. During the raid, the most common illicit item identified is HP toner cartridges.

The raid started back in September 2021 and so far it has managed to crackdown and rescind 700 counterfeit HP products.

Local authorities identified several commercial facilities selling the counterfeit materials following intelligence gathered by local HP partners, shutting down ten major sources of counterfeit cartridges for HP printers.

Although counterfeit cartridges may look like genuine HP cartridges at a glance, they do not provide the high print quality, reliability, and yields that HP customers have come to expect from original HP supplies.

In the same breath, using counterfeit cartridges can entail serious risks. These risks can include cartridges which fail to work or do not work at all, and even cause expensive or irreparable damage to printers due to ink or toner leakages.

A recent study by the Organisation for European Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) shows that international trade in counterfeit and pirated goods represents up to 3.3% of world trade, or as much as USD $509 billion.

“For resellers and distributors, the sale of counterfeit printer and toner cartridges is an infringement of intellectual property, which can have serious reputational repercussions for consumers, illicit products can deliver a poor experience and damage hardware. Authentic ink and toner cartridges have been developed to deliver consistent quality results that users can trust,”said Bradley Pulford, VP and Managing Director, HP Africa.

HP offers its customers and partners “Customer Delivery Inspections”. This is a unique protection service which helps them identify and avoid potential counterfeits.