Two Arrested for Selling Counterfeit Maize Flour in Nkhata Bay

Police in Nkhata Bay District have arrested two men for allegedly producing and selling counterfeit maize flour, violating the Malawi Bureau of Standards Act.
The suspects, Jona Mwale (28) from Masautso Village, Traditional Authority Mkanda in Mchinji, and Martin Soko (35) from Phangwa Village, Traditional Authority Malengachanzi in Nkhotakota, were apprehended following a tip-off on January 31, 2025.
Mwale was caught at Silva Wholesale in Mpamba Trading Centre with nine bales of fake fortified A1 Cream of Maize flour, a brand owned by Rab Processors Limited. Each bale contained ten 2kg packets falsely labeled as the genuine product.
Upon questioning, Mwale revealed that he was producing the counterfeit flour with his accomplice, Soko, who was based in Mzuzu. Police followed the lead and arrested Soko at Kaviware in Mzuzu, where they found 369 empty plastic packets labeled A1 Cream of Maize, a digital weighing scale, and an impulse sealer used for sealing the counterfeit packets.
The two suspects have been charged with manufacturing a commodity without authority, contrary to Section 29(1) of the Malawi Bureau of Standards Act. They will appear in court once paperwork is finalized.
Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend individuals supplying the suspects with the counterfeit packaging materials.