Thursday 4 July 2024
The Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) recently conducted a campaign in the Wilayat of Muttrah in Muscat Governorate, resulting in the seizure of over 7,000 e-cigarettes and related accessories. The campaign was part of the CPA's ongoing efforts to address abuses by sellers and suppliers and crackdown on prohibited goods and violators.
Law enforcement officers, during their field visits to shops and markets, noticed a significant customer turnout at electronics shop in Ruwi, Muttrah. They discovered that the violators were engaging in the promotion and sale of e-cigarettes through online orders and a specific delivery method. Working in collaboration with the Royal Oman Police and the Public Prosecution, the authorities apprehended the violators at an apartment associated with the commercial establishment. Alongside the arrests, they confiscated 7,622 e-cigarettes, batteries, filters, and flavored solutions.
Upon questioning, the violators admitted to promoting and selling the products through the establishment's website and WhatsApp orders. Customers would receive their purchases through delivery or by collecting them from a nearby location. In response, the CPA issued violation reports, prepared incident reports, and confiscated the seized items, which would be destroyed. Legal proceedings are currently underway against the violators, as they have violated Resolution No. 756/2023, which prohibits the circulation of e-cigarettes, electronic hookahs, and their accessories.
The CPA emphasizes its commitment to intensifying market surveillance and taking decisive action against anything that may jeopardize the health and safety of consumers. It encourages consumers to report any observed abuses in the markets through various communication channels