Counterfeit garments of various European brands were sold via an auction site in US

Date: 16/11/2006

Customs officers of Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau (IPIB) on November 16 cracked a case in which counterfeit garments of various European brands were sold via an auction site in US.

They seized about 5,000 pieces of counterfeit goods, including garments, shoes and leather products, worth about $700,000.

This was the largest seizure involving the sale of counterfeit goods via an overseas auction site.

During the operation, a 39-year-old Hong Kong man was arrested. He is now on bail pending further investigation.

On November 11, Customs officers of Airport Command seized two counterfeit goods parcels, which were destined for overseas. The parcels contained a total of 17 pieces of counterfeit garments of European brands, worth about $3,000.

Suspecting that there was counterfeit goods activities, the officers referred the case to IPIB for follow-up action.

After in-depth investigation, IPIB officers mounted an operation on November 16, arresting a 39-year-old man when he was about to post a counterfeit goods parcel at a Post Office in Hung Hom.

They seized from the man’s leased unit in Hung Hom 5,000 pieces of counterfeit goods, worth about $700,000.

Investigation showed that counterfeit goods from the Mainland had been touted on an auction site in US, and delivered to successful bidders by parcels.

Group Head of Intellectual Property Investigation (Operations), Mr Edmond Cheng, will hold a press briefing at Room 813 in the Skyline Tower, 39 Wang Kwong Road, Kowloon Bay at 4.30pm today (November 20) to round up the operation.

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