Iraq raids fake tea factory in Karbala, seizes expired food

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Trade said an unlicensed facility in Karbala was packaging counterfeit tea and storing expired food products. According to a ministry statement released on Thursday, teams from the Commercial and Financial Audit Department, working with security units, raided the site. Riyad Mehdi al-Musawi, the department's director general, said the operation uncovered a workshop filling bags with unspecified tea varieties while imitating the logos of established brands to mimic their packaging. Raiding teams also seized quantities of expired frozen meat, dairy products and canned goods, the ministry said. Al-Musawi said the seized items were referred to the relevant authorities under legal procedures and that action had been initiated against those responsible. A ministry official said inspection campaigns aimed at monitoring markets, curbing counterfeiting and protecting consumers would continue.