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Customs officers of the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau (IPIB) yesterday (Thursday) seized $920,000 worth of suspected counterfeit garments in two separate operations.

Following the seizure of 7,800 suspected counterfeit clothings from an incoming lorry at Lok Ma Chau Control Point recently, the IPIB officers yesterday raided six premises at Sham Shui Po and Tai Kok Tsui and seized a further 6,300 suspected counterfeit garments.

The value of the seizure in this case is worth about $450,000. The lorry driver is now assisting Customs enquiries.

In another case, the IPIB officers, acting on a hotline information, yesterday raided a distribution centre at a Tsim Sha Tsui building where they seized 773 counterfeit garments and arrested a suspect at the scene.

A further raid by the officers at premises inside a Tsuen Wan industrial building resulted in the seizure of 13,000 suspected counterfeit garments, including T-shirts and jeans. The value of the seizure in this case is about $470,000. It was reported that the fake garments were purchased in Shenzhen.

"We believe we have neutralised two syndicates engaged in the distribution of counterfeit garments," said a spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department.

The spokesman stressed that the department had been attaching great importance to protect intellectual property rights.

"We have spared no efforts in combating piracy activities and counterfeit goods," he said.

Last year, the Customs and Excise Department seized $66 million worth of counterfeit goods and arrested 850 suspects.

From January to September this year, the department seized $42 million worth of fake goods and arrested 596 suspects.

End/Friday, October 9, 1998

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