Hong Kong Customs officers have seized about 10,000 items of suspected counterfeit goods worth about $5 million.
In an operation codenamed “Torpedo”, they smashed a counterfeiting syndicate active at Tung Choi St in Mong Kok. Their haul was the largest for such a case in three years.
Six fixed hawker pitches, six storage areas, an upstairs showroom and three flats were raided by about 120 officers following an in-depth investigation.
As well as seizing handbags, leather goods, sunglasses and watches, the team found some tablet computers with photo displays of suspected counterfeit items, plus about $200,000 cash in different currencies.
Five men and four women, aged between 22 and 45, were arrested on charges of conspiring to sell counterfeit goods to which forged trademarks had been applied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance and the Crimes Ordinance.
As the investigation continues, a press conference was told that Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement against counterfeiting, and step up patrols and enforcement actions during the Lunar New Year.
Group head (intellectual property investigation) Fong Wing-kai reminded traders that selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime, with offenders liable to criminal sanctions.
He also urged members of the public to make their purchases at shops with a good reputation.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or has goods for sale with forged trademarks commits an offence, and can face a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Customs has a 24-hour hotline where anyone can call with information relating to the sale of suspected counterfeit goods.