In a sting to thwart criminal attempts to sell 2018 FIFA World Cup fakes, Hong Kong Customs’ Operation Goalkeeper has so far resulted in about $15.3 million worth of suspect merchandise being seized, plus five arrests.

Aimed at preventing such items crossing the border, Operation Goalkeeper launched at the end of April with a focus on finding infringing items being trafficked through passenger and cargo channels at airport, seaport, land boundary and railway control points on the eve of the matches.

Launched at the end of April 30, the sting has so far resulted in about 259,000 pieces of suspect items in 21 cases being seized.

Items include about 180,000 pieces of apparel and accessories, 50,000 pairs of shoes and 29,000 bags. There are also about 57,000 suspected counterfeit jerseys, including 50,000 pieces bearing suspected forged FIFA trademarks.

The items were seized from 12 seaborne containers, four goods vehicles and a batch of air parcels.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Operation goalkeeper continues.