During a 19-day operation, customs authorities arrested three individuals after detecting 28 cases of counterfeit and infringing goods. They seized approximately 77,000 items, including 15,000 suspected counterfeit goods and 13 liters of duty-not-paid liquor. The estimated market value of the seized goods is over HK$67 million, with a potential duty of about HK$90,000.
The operation began with the inspection of seven containers arriving in Hong Kong from Nansha, Guangdong, at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound. This led to the successful detection of seven related cases.
Further investigation by customs led to the identification of 21 additional cases at various local logistics companies. Strike-and-search operations were then conducted at around 30 logistics companies in Kwai Chung, Tuen Mun, Mai Po, Tsing Yi, and Yuen Long. Approximately 62,000 items of suspected counterfeit goods, such as watches, mobile phone accessories, glasses, clothes, and footwear, were seized, with an estimated market value of about HK$44 million.
Customs believes that some of the suspected counterfeit goods would have been sold locally, while others would have been re-exported to overseas destinations. Controlled delivery operations were organized for two batches of local delivery consignments to apprehend the individuals involved. This led to the arrest of a 33-year-old female consignee and a 32-year-old woman in Wong Chuk Hang on October 27.
Three days later, customs raided an upstairs retail shop in an industrial building in Kwun Tong, where they seized about 300 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about HK$70,000. A 35-year-old male manager was arrested during the raid.
The investigation is ongoing, and the three individuals have been released on bail. Customs authorities urge consumers to purchase goods from reputable shops or websites and to verify the authenticity of products with trademark or copyright owners or authorized agents if there are any doubts.
