Hong Kong Customs on April 1 detected a counterfeit goods smuggling case at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound and seized about 21 000 items of goods suspected to be involved in the case, with an estimated market value of about $2 million.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers on that day inspected a 40-foot container arriving in Hong Kong from Nansha, Guangdong, destined for Belize, Central America. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized a batch of suspected counterfeit and smuggled goods in the container, including handbags, hats, shoes, sunglasses and fashion accessories.
An investigation is ongoing.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trade mark 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.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting and smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
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