​Hong Kong Customs on February 16 detected a counterfeit goods smuggling case at the Customs Cargo Examination Compound, River Trade Terminal, Tuen Mun, and seized about 31 000 items of goods suspected to be involved in the case with an estimated market value of about $2 million.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers on that day inspected a 40-foot container arriving in Hong Kong from Nansha, Guangdong, destined for Argentina. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized a batch of suspected counterfeit and smuggled goods in the container, including footwear, mobile phone accessories, clothing and fashion accessories.
An investigation is ongoing.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trade mark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting and smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, February 21, 2022
