Hong Kong Customs mounted a special enforcement operation on Chung Ying Street, Sha Tau Kok, yesterday (March 11) to combat the sale of counterfeit goods and seized about 1 700 items of suspected counterfeit goods and about 450 000 suspected illicit cigarettes. The total estimated market value was about $2.9 million, and the duty potential of the suspected illicit cigarettes was about $1.5 million. One person involved in the case was arrested.
Customs earlier conducted anti-counterfeiting activities on Chung Ying Street, Sha Tau Kok, and discovered a retail shop selling suspected counterfeit goods. After investigation, Customs officers took enforcement action yesterday and raided the shop together with its hidden storage facility inside the premises and seized the batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including perfumes, cosmetic products, handbags, and the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes.
During the operation, a 46-year-old female salesperson was arrested. An investigation is ongoing.
Customs will continue to step up patrols and enforcement actions on Chung Ying Street, Sha Tau Kok, to vigorously combat counterfeit and illicit cigarette activities.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeit or illicit cigarette activities to Customs 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
