Six Chinese merchants have been detained and millions of dollars in alleged counterfeit goods confiscated during an anti-piracy raid in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, the China News Service has reported.
Authorities, with the help of military police, blocked off a mall housing almost 300 shops run by Chinese merchants at 6.30am on Tuesday.
The raid on 48 shops suspected of selling counterfeit goods followed a tip-off, the report said.
Shop owners not selling brand-name fakes but worried about the safety of their property also became involved in a standoff with police.
'Six people were detained for damaging public property, disrespect for the police and providing incorrect information,' the report said.
The police seized three truckloads of counterfeit goods, including fake Puma shoes and shirts. Yu Xiao , China's consul-general in Sao Paulo, arrived at the scene and demanded the raid be conducted in the presence of merchant representatives.