Customs seizes HK$10 million in fake products at popular Hong Kong street market in largest counterfeit haul in years
Watches, handbags and leather goods said to have sold at Ladies Market at five to 20 per cent of genuine products’ price
A counterfeit syndicate that preyed on tourists from Europe and the US at the city’s Ladies Market has been broken up by Hong Kong customs following the arrest of 10 people and seizure of HK$10 million worth of fake products.
This was the third operation by the Customs and Excise Department on Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok this year, but it involved the largest syndicate of the three. In their previous two operations in January and August, officers nabbed 12 people and seized HK$7.5 million worth of fake goods.
After those busts, the syndicate that was nabbed on Thursday selected potential customers more carefully to avoid detection, according to Guy Fong Wing-kai of Customs’ Intellectual Property Investigation (Operations) Group.
“The gang only served tourists from Europe and America,” he said. “They did not approach locals or Asian tourists in case they were undercover customs officers.”
The gang only served tourists from Europe and America
The syndicate sold their goods at five to 20 per cent of the genuine products’ price, he said, adding that he believed consumers were aware the goods were fakes.