Hong Kong Customs conducted a series of operations between May 17 and June 9 to combat cross-boundary transshipment and local sale of counterfeit goods and detected 11 cases in total. About 10 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including footwear, mobile phones, clothing, watches, handbags and fashion accessories, and about 9 300 suspected alternative smoking products (ASPs), with an estimated market value of over $11.6 million, were seized. Five persons were arrested.
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs detected two cases each at Heung Yuen Wai Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Control Point. Customs officers intercepted four trucks between May 17 and June 2 and seized a total of about 5 500 items of suspected counterfeit goods and about 9 300 suspected ASPs with an estimated market value of about $5 million and about $1.1 million respectively. Four male truck drivers aged between 50 and 60 were arrested.
After follow-up investigation, Customs conducted strike-and-search operations at a number of logistics companies in Yuen Long, Kwai Chung, To Kwa Wan and Tsing Yi, and further detected seven cases. About 4 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods, with an estimated value of about $5.4 million, were seized.
Customs believes that some of the suspected counterfeit goods would have been sold locally while the rest would have been re-exported to overseas destinations. Customs officers immediately organised a controlled delivery operation and seized about 230 items of suspected counterfeit goods, with an estimated market value of about $100,000, at a retail shop inside an industrial building in Kwun Tong on June 9. A 57-year-old female owner of the retail shop was arrested.
Investigation is ongoing and the five arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs appeals to consumers to procure goods at reputable shops or websites and to check with the trademark owners or authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Also, traders and online sellers are reminded not to sell counterfeit goods and to be cautious and prudent in merchandising.
Customs will continue to step up inspection and conduct intelligence-led enforcement to vigorously combat different types of counterfeit goods activities.
The sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions. Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports or sells or possesses for sale 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.
Under the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, any person who imports, promotes, manufactures, sells or possesses for commercial purposes ASPs, including electronic cigarette products, heated tobacco products, herbal cigarettes and any related devices, parts and accessories, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
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). They may call the Department of Health at 2961 8823 for further enquiries and complaints relating to ASPs.
Ends/Monday, June 13, 2022
