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Mbeya police impound 44 cartons of harmful cosmetics
2007-08-11 10:46:42
By Grace Tinda IJMC, Mbeya
Police have impounded a total of 44 cartons of harmful cosmetics worth 3m/- at the country`s border point of Tunduma in a big government-led operation against importation of pernicious makeups.
Unscrupulous dealers of the cosmetics were trying to cross the consignments through the border, defying the government ban imposed on importation of the same.
The government had already banned importation and circulation of over 182 cosmetics that were scientifically proved to be unfit for human use.
But Members of Parliament voiced their concern over the massive importation and circulation of dangerous cosmetics in the country’s domestic markets despite the ban.
Mbeya Regional Police Commander Suleiman Kova said some of the cosmetics seized during police raids have been banned by the government, because of their side-effects.
Some of the impounded cosmetics include—five cartoons of Deproson, five cartoons of extra Claire Lotion, 12 cartoons of Cream, a cartoon of super Claire Rico Lotion, one cartoon of Cream, three cartoons of Top Lemon, 14 cartoons of Princess Cream, a cartoon of Dermoty Lotion and a cartoon of Bertasol Lotion.
`Police nabbed the dealers of the consignment as they were trying to enter the country through the Tanzania-Zambia border at Tunduma,` he said.
According to the RPC, police acted on a tip-off by a good Samaritan, who had informed of a lorry carrying the restricted cosmetics as it was about to cross the border.
The Scania lorry with registration number T. 427 AGX and a trailer-T505 AGX, was being driven by Shaban Mrisho (29), a resident of Arusha.
The informer had told the police that the lorry had parked at Sogea for a short-lived rest before proceeding with the journey.
After receiving the information, police moved quickly to the scene and started inspecting it, during which they found cartoons of banned cosmetics plus ten parcels of copper, he said.
The consignment, reportedly owned by one Ibrahim Mgao, was destined for Dar es Salaam, said RPC.
Police investigations were going on to establish the case after which the culprits would be taken to court.
After pressure by MPs, who questioned government laxity over the influx of harmful cosmetics in the country`s markets, Health and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Dr Aisha Kigoda said the government had not relaxed on the problem.
But the minister said the government had been conducting regular inspections championed by Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA), Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and other relevant government and private institutions.
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