Hong Kong Customs mounted a special enforcement operation on March 10 and 11 in Tuen Mun to combat the sale of counterfeit goods via a group chat on an instant-messaging application, and seized about 4 300 items of suspected counterfeit children's clothing, with a total estimated market value of about $500,000. Two persons were arrested.
      
     Customs earlier received information from the public alleging that a group chat on an instant-messaging application was offering counterfeit goods for sale. After an in-depth investigation and with the assistance of trademark owners, Customs officers took enforcement action on March 10 and searched an industrial unit in Tuen Mun, resulting in the arrest of a 30-year-old woman and the seizure of the batch of suspected counterfeit goods.
      
     Following a subsequent investigation, Customs officers on March 11 further arrested a 41-year-old man suspected to be involved in the case.
      
     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 Trade Descriptions Ordinance (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.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting 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/Friday, March 13, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:32

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