ýÿWith regard to Internet rumours that Customs officers were trying to incriminate an ethnic minority young man by fabricated evidence yesterday (January 14), a spokesman for Hong Kong Customs today (January 15) solemnly clarified that the rumours are unfounded.

     Customs yesterday conducted an operation in Kwai Chung to combat the sale of counterfeit goods and found five suspected counterfeit handbags, with an estimated market value of about $2,000, inside a parcel at a logistics company. Customs officers immediately conducted a surveillance operation on the delivery and arrested a 34-year-old male consignee under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. Eighty-nine items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $40,000, including handbags, wallets and watches, were further seized on the scene.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Customs stresses that all operations are conducted with fairness, impartiality and professionalism based on facts and evidence. The department denounces any such irresponsible remarks regarding the allegation of so-called "planting of evidence" by Customs posted on social media platform.

Ends/Saturday, January 15, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:30

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