By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Sierra Leone Police have arrested a businessman, identified as Mohamed Barrie of Waterloo, for allegedly dealing in counterfeit RR electrical cables.
According to police sources, a team of officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters conducted a raid at WOLABEH Enterprise, 38 (555) Old Road, Waterloo, where Mohamed Barrie operates as a dealer in solar and electrical appliances. During the operation, police reportedly seized a large quantity of suspected counterfeit RR cables, branded as RR Cables. The businessman is currently in custody and assisting police with investigations.
The development comes amid growing public concern over the circulation of substandard electrical products in Sierra Leone, which authorities say was one of the contributors to frequent fire incidents in homes and businesses. Experts from the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) have repeatedly warned that the use of inferior electrical cables poses a serious threat to public safety.
Industry insiders note that RR Cables is a registered trademark exclusively imported and distributed in Sierra Leone by SV Electrical, located on Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown, with a branch at Hastings Junction. Since 2019, SV Electrical has been the sole authorized distributor of genuine RR Cables. However, counterfeit versions have increasingly infiltrated the market, raising alarm over the potential risks to lives and property.
In a public statement, SV Electrical urged customers to exercise caution and ensure that they purchase authentic RR Cables, wholesale and retail, directly from their outlets. The company stressed that counterfeit cables not only undermine their business but also endanger public safety due to their poor quality.
The Sierra Leone Police have assured the public that the matter is being thoroughly investigated and warned traders and importers against the sale of counterfeit or substandard electrical products. Authorities have further emphasized that offenders will face the full force of the law.
Meanwhile, concerned citizens and consumer rights advocates are calling for the seized counterfeit cables to be destroyed to prevent them from re-entering the market.
Investigations into the case are expected to make it a deterrent to others engaged in the illegal importation and sale of counterfeit goods in Sierra Leone.
