Hong Kong Customs seized about 83 000 items of suspected counterfeit sunglasses and mobile phone accessories with an estimated market value of about $3.4 million at the River Trade Terminal in Tuen Mun on November 13.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers on that day selected and inspected a 40-foot container arriving in Hong Kong from Huangpu, Guangdong, and destined for Nicaragua. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected counterfeit goods inside the container.
Investigation is ongoing.
Hong Kong Customs will stay vigilant to the smuggling trends of counterfeit goods and maintain close co-operation with the Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies to combat the relevant illegal activities vigorously through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports 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.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, November 16, 2020
