Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — Inspectors from Al-Umrah Municipality in Makkah took into custody 16 pickup trucks laden with bottles filled with contaminated water over the past three months.

Mahmoud Barnawi, head of the municipality's department for foodstuffs, the trucks were distributing water bottles with fake labels to households, shops and groceries.

He said a total of 630 containers having a capacity of 19 liters each were confiscated and destroyed.

"The bottles contained water that did not meet standards and specifications. Some of the stickers on the bottles were forged," he said.

Barnawi said the vehicles were impounded by the municipality while the violators were referred to the Ministry of Commerce and Investment to take appropriate legal action against them.

"We will continue our drive against this sort of fraudulent operations to protect the health of consumers," he added.