Hong Kong Customs raids online shop selling suspected counterfeit goods and engaging in money laundering (with photos)
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Customs earlier received information from the public, alleging that an online shop was offering counterfeit footwear for sale, and an investigation was then launched. After an in-depth investigation and with the assistance of trademark owners, Customs officers took enforcement action on October 20 and searched an industrial unit in Tsuen Wan, resulting in the seizure of the batch of suspected counterfeit goods.
Meanwhile, fund-flow analysis revealed that one of the arrested persons was suspected of using corporate and personal bank accounts to deal with a large amount of suspected crime proceeds. A total of about $13 million of suspected crime proceeds generated from the sale of counterfeit goods had been handled by the arrested person since 2023.
During the operation, a 31-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman, who are siblings, were arrested under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) and the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO).
An investigation is ongoing, and the arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs reminds consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops or online shops and to avoid conducting transactions with suspicious traders. They should check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.
Customs has been striving to protect consumer rights and carries out inspections in the market and on the Internet from time to time. Moreover, Customs officers use a big-data analytics system to carry out risk assessments and analyses to verify whether online shops have complied with the TDO with a view to safeguarding the interests of consumers during online purchases.
Under the TDO, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Under the OSCO, a person commits an offence if he or she deals with any property knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that such property, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly represents any person's proceeds of an indictable offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for 14 years, while the crime proceeds are also subject to confiscation.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities and suspected money laundering 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).
Ends/Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:05
Issued at HKT 17:05
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