Hong Kong Customs has seized about 3000 suspected counterfeit items with an estimated market value of about HK$230,000 (US$29,599).

Officers confiscated the items during a raid of a suspected counterfeiting syndicate in Central yesterday as part of a special sweep before the Easter holiday.

Customs officers raided three upstairs storage/showrooms spaces as well as three mobile hawker stalls. The haul included clothing, shoes, handbags, watches and eyeglasses.

Six men and one woman, aged between 33 and 48 years, were arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO), any person who sells or has for sale goods with a forged trademark commits an offence, with the maximum penalty upon conviction being a $500,000 fine and imprisonment for five years.

Customs will step up patrolling and enforcement actions throughout Easter.