Customs officers from the Marine Enforcement Group of the Ports and Maritime Command seized $5.6 million worth of falsely marked goods in two cases during a cargo examination operation at the Kwai Chung Container Terminal yesterday (June 10).
In the early hours of June 10, the officers inspected a 40-foot container unloaded from a river trade vessel from Huangpu. The container, destined for Ghana, was declared to be containing file cabinets. After examination, the officers found 487 television sets and 148 air conditioners, all carrying forged trade marks and false origin labels. The seizure was worth about $900,000.
While searching a 20-foot container from Huangpu at about the same time, the officers seized 123,839 counterfeit mobile phone accessory items, including batteries, cartridges and remote controls. The consignment, destined for Panama, was worth about $4.7 million.
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department said today, "The seizure was made as a result of the intensive intelligence analysis work on cargo manifests conducted by Customs officers.
"Customs investigations are continuing. No arrest has been made yet."
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, anyone importing or exporting goods bearing false trade descriptions or forged trade marks is liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and five years' imprisonment.
Ends/Friday, June 11, 2004