Zambian police have confiscated over 2,600 fake Samsung mobile phones worth over $1.5 million from shops in Lusaka and the country’s Copperbelt mining area.

The police’s anti-piracy squad and Zambia Bureau of Standards officers swung into action in a bid to rid the Zambian market of counterfeit mobile phones that have flooded the country.

Suspects allegedly caught with the devices have been charged with the sale of goods bearing forged or false trademark descriptions.

Police deputy spokesperson, Charity Chanda, said the suspects have further been charged with being in possession of goods that infringe upon copyrights.

“I wish to strongly warn members of the public against engaging in illegal practices because the law will visit them,” Chanda said.

Intellectual Property specialist, Kingsley Nkonde, who was involved in the crackdown said the operation to confiscate the counterfeit phones was carried out simultaneously in Lusaka and the Copperbelt provinces.

“These phones range from what may be considered as low and high market products, including what may be considered as smartphones. We have observed an increase in the number of counterfeit mobile phones on the Zambian market,” Nkonde said.

Nkonde attributed the rise in the number of fake mobile phones to the rising demand for affordable mobile phones.

He said the confiscation of counterfeit mobile phones and other fake products will soon be extended to other parts of the country.