Displaying items by tag: crime

Niger: The Nigerien government has closed nine commercial establishments in Niamey for 15 days for failing to comply with new cement price caps set in October 2024, with any further infringements leading to a five-year administrative closure. The decision follows traders' continued sale of cement above the capped prices despite measures to lower the cost of living, according to the Journal du Niger newspaper.

Minister of Trade and Industry Asman Seydou said “We do not tolerate any breach of the law. Nigerien consumers have the right to benefit from the prices set by the government, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that they are respected.”

The Ministry of Commerce has introduced a reinforced control system, including a hotline for reporting violations. The government has also granted tax exemptions to cement importers and producers to support domestic production.

Zimbabwe: Villagers in Hurungwe District are protesting against a cement and power plant project by WHI-ZIM Construction Material Investments, alleging illegal land seizures, lack of compensation and environmental risks. WHI-ZIM, a joint venture between Lebanmon Investments and West International Holding, has pledged US$1bn for the project in Mashonaland West, promising 5000 jobs and local infrastructure upgrades. However, more than 80 families face displacement without clear relocation or compensation plans, according to Zim Live news. Residents accuse the company of forcibly depositing materials on communal land without legal permits. Chief Chanetsa of Hurungwe endorsed the project on 135 hectares, citing community benefits, including schools, clinics, boreholes and a 45km road.

He said “If there is any field affected within these 135 hectares, we have agreed with the company that it shall fully compensate the affected area.”

Environmentalists and villagers have warned of risks to Magunje Dam, the villagers’ water source located 1.4km from the plant. They allege irregularities in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which mandates compensation and relocation before work begins.

Residents claim WHI-ZIM ignored EIA conditions and began fencing communal land in July 2024.

A community activist said “The corruption here is blatant. People are being forced off their land while officials look the other way.”

Kenya: A police operation in Athi River led to the arrest of five suspects and the impoundment of three trucks involved in a cement siphoning racket. Officers from the Kenya Police Service recovered over 660 bags of cement that allegedly weighed 4kg less than advertised, at 46kg each, according to The Star Kenya. The operation was initiated after a customer had complained about receiving underweight cement bags. One of the suspects said that he was paid US$3.86/day to siphon 2 - 6kg of cement from each 50kg bag, and that each truck carrying 220 bags of cement was siphoned by three people at a time, usually during the night.

Zimbabwe: Bulawayo deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu and Finance and Development Committee chairperson Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo have been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for allegedly demanding a US$20,000 bribe from Labenmon Investments. The officials are accused of soliciting the bribe from the China-based investors in exchange for approving 5.6 hectares of land for a cement plant. The initial application for 10 hectares was denied by the Bulawayo City Council. The two were scheduled to appear in court on 16 November 2024.

A statement from the ZACC said "The circumstances are that sometime in November 2023, Tsitsi Mapfumo from Labenmon Investments made an application, without success, for 10 hectares of land to the Bulawayo City Council for a cement mixing plant. Labenmon Investments resubmitted the application in April 2024 and was offered 5.6 hectares. After Labenmon Investments received an offer letter, the accused persons allegedly approached Mapfumo demanding a reward of US$20,000 cash on behalf of other 20 Bulawayo City Council councillors for facilitating the approval.”

Mexico: Cruz Azul, owned by Cooperativa Cruz Azul, has reportedly incurred losses exceeding US$1.26bn due to the control of its cement and concrete plant in Tula, Hidalgo by a dissident group over the past four years, according to Noticias Financieras news. The company has expanded production capacity in four other plants and announced new investments in Campeche to mitigate production issues at the Tula plant. Legal director Rafael Anzures Ortiz said that the group is holding the facilities hostage, reportedly affecting over 4000 jobs. He said that the plant has the capacity to produce 35-40% of the company's total cement volumes, but no cement has been produced in the last four years, despite the salaries of more than 1000 workers at the plant being guaranteed.

Rafael Anzures Ortiz said "We have been very emphatic in requesting the state government to go to court and to seek compliance with the law so that this plant can start operating again and this entire economy can be reactivated."

Kenya: Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested three suspects in Baruti, Nakuru County, for impersonating employees of a cement company and defrauding unsuspecting customers by offering cement at low prices. During the raid, assorted SIM cards, a desktop computer and six mobile phones were seized, according to The Star newspaper. The DCI confirms that investigations are ongoing and more accomplices may be arrested. The suspects are currently in custody awaiting formal charges.

Mexico: A violent attempt by 300 people to take over the Cruz Azul cement plant in Tula, Hidalgo, led to around 20 people injured, eight seriously. The attackers were reportedly armed with machetes and firearms, with confrontations at the plant resulting in two people shot, Noticias Financieras News has reported. 120 people have been detained for prosecution. The dispute dates back to 2018 and stems from two groups disputing the company’s assets, with organised crime reportedly used at other plants. Cooperativa Cruz Azul affirmed that it had no relation to the attacks and urged the authorities to reestablish legal order.

In a statement, it said "Cooperativa La Cruz Azul reiterates its commitment to collaborate with the authorities for the benefit of the development of the Hidalgo community, as has been done to date in other states and municipalities of the Mexican Republic.”

India: Rambhav Gattu, a chief manufacturing officer at Ambuja Cement in Chhattisgarh, has been arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe a government official in Odisha, Reuters reports. He is accused of having offered a box of confectionery containing US$2382 to the collector of Odisha's Barghar region, whose duties involve collecting revenues. A case has been registered against Gattu for ‘attempting to induce a public servant’, without specifying what the money offered was for. The arrest aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anti-corruption campaign, which has intensified actions against corrupt practices.

Uganda: Authorities in Tororo district intercepted a counterfeit cement operation on 7 August 2024, seizing over 4t of cement. The joint operation by police, Uganda Revenue Authority, and the Resident District Commissioner’s office targeted a group involved in producing and selling counterfeit cement, which was packaged in branded bags of Simba Cement, Tororo Cement, and Hima Cement. The bust took place 5km from Tororo along the Tororo-Jinja highway. A truck carrying the counterfeit cement was impounded, and the driver was arrested.

Albert Amula, deputy resident district commissioner, highlighted the dangers of using substandard materials, linking them to building collapses, and called on contractors to only buy from licensed hardware stores. Cement manufacturers have called for stricter regulations to combat this illicit trade.

India: Jahangirabad police have raided a cement warehouse, seizing 437 bags of counterfeit cement. The owner has been arrested under the Copyright Act of the Indian Penal Code.

The raid followed a complaint from Delhi resident Raunak Joshi, head of a company identifying fake and adulterated products. Joshi reported unauthorised sales of cement under the UltraTech brand in Jinsi Square, Jahangirabad. The police's operation at Mohammad Siddiqui's shop and warehouse uncovered the counterfeit cement, some falsely labelled as UltraTech and others with different brand labels.