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A team of observant Customs officers from the River Trade Division yesterday (January 2) seized $650,000 worth of pants bearing false origin labels from a transit container.

At about 11.45 am, the officers intercepted a river trade vessel from Sanbu, Mainland at Tuen Mun Anchorage and seized 13 212 pairs of jeans bearing false origin labels on board a 40-foot container.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the goods were destined for sale in Europe and the US.

No arrest has yet been made, the case has been handed over to the Customs Textiles Fraud Investigation Bureau for further enquiries," said a spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, it is an offence to import goods with false trade descriptions. The maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and five years' imprisonment.

End/Thursday, January 3, 2002

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