Hong Kong Customs has conducted an operation against the sale of counterfeit goods at a fair held at AsiaWorld-Expo and seized suspected counterfeit jewellery.

Customs had earlier received information alleging that counterfeit jewellery was displayed for sale at a booth of the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair held at AsiaWorld-Expo.

Upon investigation, Customs officers conducted a test-buy operation and successfully bought two suspected counterfeit bracelets. A batch of suspected counterfeit jewellery, including 40 bracelets and four rings valued at about HK$3300, were also seized at the booth.

During the operation, three company directors aged between 43 and 50 were arrested.

A statement by Customs said that it will continue to take stringent enforcement action to combat infringing activities. Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells, or possesses for sale, any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of HKD500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

The investigation is ongoing.