Over 3,000 fake football jerseys of Argentina, Mexico national teams among HK$30 million in counterfeit goods seized by Hong Kong customs
- Other fake items include knock-off watches carrying well-known brand names such as Patek Philippe and Rolex
- Five suspects arrested in undercover operation after officers tracked delivery of goods to stores
More than 3,000 counterfeit football jerseys of the national teams of Argentina and Mexico are among HK$30 million (US$3.8 million) worth of fake brand-name products seized in a two-week operation, Hong Kong customs has revealed.
An investigation suggested the sportswear, which could fetch as much as HK$2 million if sold in the respective countries, was to meet demand for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar next month, a law enforcement source on Thursday said.
The two consignments of jerseys, destined for Argentina and Mexico, were discovered on the premises of two logistics companies in Yuen Long on Tuesday, the last day of the operation code-named “Tracer III”. Authorities were targeting counterfeit activities involving cross-boundary transshipment and local delivery.
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Officers from customs’ intellectual property investigation bureau are still looking into the source of the fake goods. No arrests have been made in connection with the seizure of the fake jerseys.
During the crackdown between September 28 and October 11, customs officers seized about 63,000 counterfeit products. The items included watches, handbags, sports shoes, clothing, sunglasses and mobile phone accessories. Five people were arrested.
Knock-off watches accounted for more than a third of the haul. The fake timepieces carried well-known brand names such as Patek Philippe and Rolex, and were estimated to be worth about HK$11 million.
“An investigation revealed those which are of high quality were destined for Europe and North America,” the source said.
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Most of the items were seized in warehouses of the logistics companies in Lau Fau Shan, Yuen Long, Tsing Yi and Kwai Chung.
Assistant Superintendent Sky Fung Wai-ching of the bureau said it was the biggest seizure of counterfeit products found inland in a single operation in two decades.
He said the counterfeit goods were smuggled into the city from neighbouring areas and Asian countries by air, land and sea, and most of them were for re-export.
In Hong Kong, some cargo imported using different modes of transport is conveyed to logistics company premises for processing, temporary storage, local delivery or to make arrangements for re-export.
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One of the seized parcels for local delivery was addressed to a store in Causeway Bay. On October 2, a customs officer impersonating a delivery worker sent the parcel to the shop, where the alleged consignee – a domestic helper – was arrested.
About 170 counterfeit products with an estimated street value of HK$360,000 were seized in that case. Two Hong Kong residents – a male shop proprietor and his female staff member – were also arrested.
“An initial investigation suggests the shop allegedly sold fakes to buyers, including domestic helpers in the city, and also received online orders to help them deliver to their hometowns,” the source said.
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Two other suspects – both women – were rounded up in another delivery to a North Point retail shop on September 29. In the shop, 31 pairs of sports shoes with forged trademarks were seized. The haul was worth about HK$10,000.
According to the Customs and Excise Department, the five suspects have been released on bail, pending further investigation.
It was the bureau’s third operation this year. In January, officers confiscated more than 27,000 fake brand-name products worth about HK$10 million and arrested three people in an eight-day mission against contraband. In May, they seized HK$22 million worth of counterfeit goods and arrested five people.
Fung, the assistant superintendent, said customs would continue to step up stringent inspection and enforcement to combat such activities.
Authorities also appealed to consumers to buy goods at reputable shops and urged store operators and traders to be cautious in procurement and not to be involved in counterfeit goods activities.
Argentina and Mexico have both been drawn in Group C for the World Cup, which runs from November 20 to December 18.
The two sides will play each other in the second round of group matches on November 26 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, in Lusail.
Additional reporting by Joshua Ball
