A public tip-off has led Hong Kong Customs officers to break a fake sportswear importing and retaling ring in the New Territories.
In “a series of special operations” last week offcirs “successfully smashed a syndicate which was actively involved in the sale of suspected counterfeit sporting apparel” Hong Kong Customs said in a media statement.
In the operations, Customs successfully intercepted an inbound consignment of suspected counterfeit sporting apparel being smuggled into Hong Kong from neighbouring areas. Customs also cracked down on two storehouses keeping suspected counterfeit sporting apparel and raided three mobile hawker stalls operated by the syndicate in New Territories.
A total of 6400 suspected counterfeit sporting apparel including T-shirts, jackets and pants valued at about $420,000 were seized.
Five men and one woman, including the mastermind and “skeleton members”, aged from 23 to 52, were arrested. They were released on bail pending further investigation.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale goods bearing a forged trademark, commits an offence. Once convicted, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for five years and a fine of $500,000.
Suspected counterfeiting activities can be reported via Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.