Hong Kong Customs smashes organised counterfeiting syndicate in Mong Kok
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     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 21) conducted an operation codenamed "Torpedo" and successfully smashed an organised counterfeiting syndicate active at Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok. Customs officers seized about 10 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with a total value of about $5 million. This is the largest among similar cases in the past three years.

     After in-depth investigation, Customs deployed about 120 officers to conduct an operation codenamed "Torpedo" and raided six fixed hawker pitches, six storage areas and an upstairs showroom of suspected counterfeit goods as well as three flats. In the operation, a few tablet computers for displaying photos of suspected counterfeit goods and about 10 000 pieces of counterfeit goods including watches, handbags, leather goods and sunglasses, valued at about $5 million, and about $200,000 in cash comprising different currencies were seized.

     A total of five men and four women, aged between 22 and 45, were arrested. They were suspected to have conspired to sell counterfeit goods to which forged trademarks had been applied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance and the Crimes Ordinance. Investigation is ongoing.

     The Group Head (Intellectual Property Investigation (Operations)), Mr Fong Wing-kai, said at a press conference today (January 22) that Customs had successfully smashed an organised syndicate engaged in selling counterfeit goods. Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against counterfeiting activities and step up patrolling and enforcement actions during the Lunar New Year period. He appealed to members of the public to purchase at shops with a good reputation, and reminded traders that selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with any forged trademark commits an offence. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment of five years.

     Anyone with information relating to the sale of suspected counterfeit goods may call Customs via the 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.

Ends/Friday, January 22, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:17

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