Customs officers neutralised a counterfeit mobile phone and accessories syndicate last night (August 27) after raiding a shop in Tsim Sha Tsui.
They seized 5,500 counterfeit mobile phones and accessories, including 600 mobile phones, 600 chargers, 4,100 batteries, 100 phones shells and 100 pairs of earphones, worth about $450,000.
Customs officers also found a batch of used mobile phone accessories of old models, brand name product stickers, user manuals and packaging materials.
It was believed that the syndicate attempted to repackage the used mobile phones and accessories for sale as brand-new products.
Investigation showed that the syndicate targeted regions in Africa and Southern Asia for selling these counterfeit goods, with a small quantity sold locally.
Following up a case detected by Police at Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui on August 26 involving a counterfeit mobile phone manufacturing site, Customs officers suspected that the syndicate might operate a retail outlet. The operation was subsequently carried out.
Divisional Commander (Trade Descriptions Investigation), Mr Samson Chiu, today (August 28) reminded the public to purchase genuine mobile phones and accessories from authorised dealers.
He stressed that Hong Kong Customs had been cooperating closely with trademark owners to stringently combat sale activities of counterfeit mobile phones and accessories.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, it is a criminal offence to sell goods with forged trademarks or false trade descriptions to a material degree. The maximum penalty upon conviction is imprisonment for five years and a fine of $500,000.
Ends/Tuesday, August 28, 2007
