Kira Road Police have been accused of favoring Taufik Virani of Crown Polymer (U) Limited, the alleged mastermind behind a large counterfeit goods operation.
Virani, accused of flooding the market with poor-quality plastics, was arrested on Friday, January 31, 2025, in a raid at his factory and warehouse at Tirupati Industrial Park, Kyebando.
Police reportedly found workers in production and a warehouse full of counterfeit packaged products ready for dispatch. They also recovered samples of goods under production and designs for various products, including Metro, Classic, Summit, and Mugumu.
Despite years of alleged illegal activity and previous brushes with the law, sources say Virani received a surprisingly lenient treatment from the police.
He was reportedly released on bond within two hours of his detention. Within 24 hours, police were allegedly ready to reopen his factory to allow production to resume, ignoring protests from the Uganda Plastic Recyclers Association (UPRA) and the aggrieved manufacturers themselves, according to UPRA’s Executive Director.
“His factory and warehouse should be locked down until he is prosecuted,” commented one officer familiar with trademark protection. “Instead, the police are trying to convince us why he cannot be detained and why he should be allowed to continue working.”
Virani’s operation, which authorities say has generated millions, allegedly copied established brands, flooded the market without paying taxes, and caused significant losses to legitimate businesses. Unsuspecting customers are left with cheap imitations.
Despite the various complaints against Virani and the ongoing investigations, many are questioning whether justice will be served and whether the alleged counterfeit kingpin will be held accountable.
