The ministry confiscated more than 2,000 bags of the adulterated rice before it could reach the market.

Officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Jazan recently seized large quantities of adulterated and low-quality rice from a warehouse run by illegal workers.

The rice was packed in bags of well-known brands to delude customers into buying the inferior product at the high price of the original good quality grain.

The ministry confiscated more than 2,000 bags of the adulterated rice before it could reach the market. The warehouse was shut down and those in charge of the illegal operation are being questioned and face legal action.

The ministry’s inspection teams raided the warehouse following information on the illegal operations being carried out on the premises. When they arrived, they found a large number of empty bags labeled with the names of famous brands of high quality rice. They also found huge quantities of different varieties of rice on the floor of the warehouse ready for packaging and distribution to retail outlets.

The ministry’s operation in Jazan comes as part of its efforts to control consumer fraud in various regions of the Kingdom.

The ministry said in a statement that the offenders would receive harsh penalties for putting the health and safety of consumers at risk by marketing inferior products.

The ministry also urged consumers to report their observations or complaints on the number 1900.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry had earlier announced the confiscation of about 1,000 bags containing 40 kg of rice each that had been repackaged in bags of famous labels. The bags were being loaded onto a large truck in the south of Riyadh to be sold to shops when the ministry’s teams intercepted the illegal operation.

 
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