The danger that threatens us from contraband goods/ Scams with cosmetic products

2024-07-30 13:32:00, Aktualitet CNA

The danger that threatens us from contraband goods/ Scams with cosmetic products

Illustrative photo

The illegal trade in cosmetic goods is a disturbing phenomenon in Albania, which must be fought by the authorities, since in addition to the economic damage, the lives of citizens are also at risk. (read here)

Cases of smuggled goods have been denounced by CNA quite a few times.

Contraband goods of the subject "Global Cosmetics & Distribution"

A few weeks ago, the Economic Crime Section of the Tirana Police Directorate in cooperation with the Tax Investigation of the General Directorate of Taxes attacked the illegal commercial activity of the subject of "Global Cosmetics & Distribution".

Considerable quantities of contraband goods were found in this subject with administrator Tea Karanxha. As a result, Tea Karanxha and Ergys Mezini were declared wanted.

Tea Karanxha and Ergys Mezini

The police announced that about 3,000 different cosmetic products, which were contraband, were found in business premises in Tirana. (read here)

According to the information available to CNA, it is suspected that this business was financed by persons who are suspected of developing activity in the trade and distribution of narcotics in European Union countries.

What do people risk from smuggled cosmetic products?

In these cases of smuggling, it cannot simply be that a few canisters of shampoo, soap or cosmetic products were caught. Citizens' health is at risk. They buy products, spending money, but there is no guarantee of their quality. (read here)

Their use risks showing a number of diseases in the population. The consequences start from hair burning, hair loss, various skin infections, leading to skin tumors.

What is important in the whole phenomenon is that no one guarantees us that these products are within the standards and healthy and why they are smuggled, avoiding legal obligations.

Expiration scams

An even more worrisome problem is fraud with scans. (read here)

It is not known where the smuggled goods of the subject "Global Cosmetics & Distribution" came from, from which country they were imported, that there is a possibility that the expiration dates may have been changed in order to be put on the market for sale to Albanian consumers. A direct risk to the health of Albanian consumers.

We must clarify here that these contraband products may be original, obtained from certified companies, but they may have been purchased beyond their expiration dates. When cosmetic products are put on the market, manufacturers set a deadline that does not exceed 2 years, so they have an expiration date. If they exceed the 2-year deadline, they should be removed, because they can cause problems for people.

But the Albanian smugglers go and get them at very low prices in six countries, or almost for free, and then put them on the market even though they are dangerous and unsafe.

This is a very flagrant situation and requires immediate state intervention.

Only one or two police actions are not enough, but in fact this trade must be put to the end, not only illegal, but also dangerous for the lives of Albanians, who spend but are deceived in purchases.

The trade in contraband goods and scams with scams is a worrying problem in at least 34 years of pluralism./CNA