Customs officers of the Anti-Internet Piracy Team conducted a four-day operation, resulting in the neutralisation of a syndicate suspected to have sold via Internet counterfeit goods, including shoes, sun glasses and jeans to United States and Canada.
They seized 220 pieces of counterfeit goods, worth about $100,000; and arrested two men and a woman, aged between 24 and 39.
Customs investigations showed that the syndicate made use of an auction site and hosted a company website to tout customers for orders. After orders were placed, the syndicate ordered counterfeit goods from Guangdong, Mainland. When the required goods arrived in Hong Kong, the syndicate arranged somebody to collect the goods and post the parcels to overseas customers.
On November 22, Customs officers arrested two men at a post office in Kwai Chung. A 24-year-old man was believed to be the syndicate mastermind. Another man, aged 31, was suspected to have posted 31 parcels to United States and Canada between November 21 and 22.
The officers also arrested a 39-year-old woman at an office in an industrial building in Kwai Chung.
The case is still under investigation.
"It is believed that the syndicate attempted to evade Customs investigation by shortening the time the counterfeit products were kept in Hong Kong so as to lower the risk and operational cost. However, Customs will keep close watch on the trend of counterfeiting activities and take stringent enforcement action to combat such activities," a spokesman for Customs and Excise said today (November 25).
He also pointed out that the counterfeit goods seized were of low quality and were sold at price 30% less than the genuine products.
Any person who contravenes the Trade Descriptions Ordinance is liable to prosecution. The maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and an imprisonment for five years.
The public is encouraged to report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Hong Kong Customs by calling the 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Friday, November 25, 2005