Hong Kong Customs mounted a territory-wide special enforcement operation yesterday (December 17) to combat the sale of counterfeit goods and seized about 1,300 suspected counterfeit goods, with an estimated market value of about $1.4 million. Four persons were arrested.
Customs earlier received information alleging that suspected counterfeit speakers and wireless headphones were on sale in a chain retail group. After an in-depth investigation and with the assistance of the trademark owner, Customs officers took enforcement action yesterday and raided the group's eight branches across the territory as well as an industrial unit in Kowloon. A batch of suspected counterfeit speakers and wireless headphones was seized.
During the operation, four men aged between 44 and 54 were arrested. They comprised two company directors and two shop managers.
An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs will continue to step up inspections and enforcement to vigorously combat the sale of different kinds of counterfeit goods.
Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the product's authenticity is in doubt. Traders should also be cautious and prudent with merchandising since selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report the sale of suspected counterfeit goods to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
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