Hong Kong Customs seized about 22 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $2.7 million at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal on April 13.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers on that day inspected two 40-foot containers arriving in Hong Kong from Nansha, Guangdong. Upon inspection, Customs officers found inside the two containers the batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including mobile phone accessories, handbags, shoes and watches.
Initial investigations revealed that the two batches of suspected counterfeit goods would have be re-exported to North American and Middle East countries.
Investigation is ongoing.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to closely monitor the smuggling trends of counterfeit goods and maintain close co-operation with Mainland Customs 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, April 19, 2021
