Hong Kong Customs combats counterfeit goods activities and seizes suspected counterfeit and smuggled goods worth over $17 million ahead of Christmas (with photo)
​Hong Kong Customs conducted a two-week enforcement operation codenamed "Santa Guardian" from December 9 to 20 to combat counterfeit goods activities involving cross-boundary transshipments with the approach of Christmas. During the operation, Customs detected 10 related cases and seized about 43 000 suspected counterfeit and smuggled goods with an estimated market value of over $17 million. One person involved in the cases was arrested.
Customs discovered that criminals intended to ship counterfeit goods and unmanifested cargo abroad via Hong Kong to meet the huge shopping demand with the approach of Christmas. As such, through risk assessment, Customs inspected three containers at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound and one incoming lorry at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port Inbound Cargo Examination Building. After inspection, Customs officers seized a total of about 35 000 suspected counterfeit and smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $11 million.
Moreover, through intelligence analysis and detailed investigations, six related cases were uncovered in a number of local logistics companies. In the operation, Customs officers mounted strike-and-search actions against six logistics companies in Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi, seizing about 7 400 suspected counterfeit goods, including watches, mobile phones, footwear and clothing, with a total estimated market value of about $6 million.
Investigations into the above-mentioned cases are ongoing. One person involved in the cases was arrested, and he has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs appeals to consumers to purchase goods from reputable shops or websites and to check with trademark or copyright owners, or authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt to avoid buying counterfeit or infringing goods.
Customs will continue to step up inspections and conduct intelligence-led enforcement to vigorously combat counterfeit and infringing goods activities at different levels.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports, or sells or possesses for sale any goods to which a forged trademark is applied, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting or infringing activities 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).
