Police in Nkhata Bay District have arrested two men for allegedly being found producing and selling counterfeit maize flour, contravening Malawi Bureau of Standards Act.

The suspects have been identified as Jona Mwale aged 28, of Masautso Village, Traditional Authority Mkanda in Mchinji and his accomplice Martin Soko 35, of Phangwa Village, Traditional Authority Malengachanzi in Nkhotakota.

The arrest followed a tip-off on January 31, 2025 about the presence of a business man (Mwale) at Mpamba trading centre in the district who was found at Silva Wholesale offering for sale the fake fortified A1 Cream of Maize flour which is actual brand of Rab Processors Limited.

Mwale was found with nine (9) bales of the said fake maize flour each containing 10, 2Kgs packets labelled A1 Cream of Maize.

Upon being quizzed further, Mwale revealed that they produce the commodity with his accomplice Martin Soko who resides in Mzuzu. He led the team of investigators at Kaviware in Mzuzu where an arrest of the accomplice was effected.

Soko was found with 369, 2Kgs empty plastic packets bearing A1 Cream of Maize label, a digital weighing scale and an Impulse sealer used for sealing the packets.

The duo have apparently been charged with manufacturing of commodity without authority which is contrary to section 29(1) of Malawi Bureau of Standards Act.

They will appear in court after paper work.

Further investigations are underway to trace and apprehend those who were providing the suspects with the empty packets belonging to Rab Processors Limited illegitimately.