HP Seizes Thousands of Counterfeit Products in Saudi Arabia

HP’s Anti-Counterfeiting and Fraud Team partnered with Saudi authorities to identify and confiscate counterfeit HP toner cartridges

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 30, 2020 – HP’s Anti-Counterfeit and Fraud teams in the Middle East have continued to see successes in identifying and seizing counterfeit print supplies. In August 2020, the Saudi customs tackled an illicit cross-border trade in counterfeit cartridges for HP printers. 

The Saudi authorities seized a shipment of counterfeit supplies, which was about to enter the country via a port on the Red Sea Coast. Consequently, around 6,000 ready-for-sale counterfeit toner cartridges were confiscated.

“HP is proud of its continued work with the Middle Eastern authorities to combat the sale of counterfeit print supplies. We thank the local authorities for their cooperation and swift action in this successful seizure and their determination to apprehend and prosecute counterfeiters who break the law,” said Narayanan Venkataraman, Managing Director, HP, Saudi Arabia. “Our unwavering efforts and commitment to removing counterfeit products from the market ensure our HP customers benefit from the highest quality HP print supply products.”

Counterfeiting is a crime. For users, such illegal imitations can cause a multitude of problems that can lead to performance and reliability issues. Should your printer break because of using counterfeit printer ink or toner, you may have difficulty with your manufacturer’s warranty becoming not applicable. 

In contrast, original HP products are designed to meet HP’s strict quality and reliability standards, based on a long history of inventing and testing. Original HP LaserJet and HP inkjet cartridges, unlike counterfeits, benefit from superior performance and consistent results.

Across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) over the last five years, approximately 12 million counterfeits and components have been seized by local authorities, supported by HP. HP has conducted over 4,500 audits and inspections (CPPAs and CDIs) of partners’ stocks or suspicious deliveries for customers.

Through HP’s Anti-Counterfeit and Fraud (ACF) Programme, the company actively educates its customers and partners to be vigilant against fake printing supplies. It also cooperates closely with local and global law enforcement authorities to detect and dismantle illegal operations that produce counterfeit HP printing components.