The Macau Customs Service said in a statement yesterday that it busted two shops and confiscated 37 fake watches on Wednesday.
According to a statement, a resident recently tipped off the Macau Customs Service that a shop in the northern district was probably selling bogus wristwatches. The statement said that the resident suspected the shop because its watches were “too light” and their colouring was “off”.
According to the statement, Customs officers started to investigate the shop and found that another shop in the central district was also likely to be involved in the bogus wristwatch business.
The statement noted that on Wednesday, the officers took action and searched the two shops and found 36 fake watches which, along with the one that the resident had bought from one of the shops, were taken to be verified. The statement pointed out that all of them turned out to be counterfeits.
According to the statement, a genuine watch of the brand would cost 120,000 patacas. The shop owner admitted that he bought the watches from the mainland for around 600 to 1,500 patacas each and resold them for 1,100 patacas to 2,300 patacas.
The statement said that two shop owners and one sales assistant were arrested, adding that they were all transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP).
The Macau Customs Service urged shoppers who suspect a shop selling counterfeits to send an email at info@customs.gov.mo or call 2896 5001.
This undated handout photo provided by Macau Customs Service yesterday shows officers closing down the two watch shops.
This undated handout photo provided by the Macau Customs Service yesterday shows the confiscated bogus watches.
