Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit goods worth about $3.9 million in "Swift Net" operation (with photo)
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Through intelligence analysis and in-depth investigations, Customs officers carried out strike-and-search operations at express courier companies and logistics companies across various districts and seized the suspected counterfeit goods, which included watches, mobile phone accessories, bags, clothing, cosmetics and footwear.
After follow-up investigations, Customs believed that some of the suspected counterfeit goods would have been sold locally while the rest would have been re-exported to overseas destinations. Customs officers also organised a controlled delivery operation in respect of a batch of seized items. On August 21, Customs officers arrested a 36-year-old male consignee at a suspected counterfeit warehouse in Hung Hom. Upon investigation, about 1 240 items of suspected counterfeit goods, including bags, belts, cosmetics and footwear, with an estimated value of about $446,000 were seized inside the warehouse.
Investigations of the above-mentioned case are ongoing. The arrested person has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs appeals to consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops or websites to avoid buying counterfeit goods. Practitioners in the logistics industry should also comply with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) and check with trademark owners or authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Traders should also be cautious and prudent in merchandising since selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime, and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.
Customs will continue to step up inspections and conduct intelligence-led enforcement to vigorously combat different types of counterfeit and infringing goods activities.
Under the TDO, any person who imports or exports or sells or possesses for sale any goods to which a forged trademark is applied 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/Thursday, September 10, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:08
Issued at HKT 18:08
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