Date: 2019-11-20

THE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has seized over 170 cartons of substandard stainless cooking wares and 30 cartons of electric blenders in Kwara State.

Speaking after the operation in Ilorin, the organisation's state coordinator, Mrs. Esther Okon, said SON "has apprehended a syndicate of three Egyptians who specialise in importation and distribution of substandard stainless cooking wares and electric blenders in Ilorin, Kwara State, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)."

She disclosed that the operation followed series of complaints received from consumers in Ilorin, Omu Aran, Offa, Songa and other parts of the state about a Saleh brand of stainless cooking utensils that get discoloured within one to two weeks of use.

Okon said: "Investigation by SON officials revealed a discreet direct marketing and sale of the product by three Egyptians on behalf of Khafaga Import and Export Limited. purportedly based in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State.

"The syndicate carries out their operation from a hidden warehouse at GRA, Ilorin," she said.

She further disclosed that when quality verification was carried out on the products, the result revealed that they were imported without undergoing the SON import procedure, not registered with SON to make them traceable as required by law and were without country of origin.

"While evacuating about 170 cartons of the stainless cooking wares, SON officials also discovered another 30 cartons of electric blenders without import documents or registration certificate to make them traceable. They were also evacuated," she said.

The suspects have been handed over to law enforcement agencies for further interrogation.