The Macau Customs Service said in a statement on Friday that it used a “big data online system” to track down three shops found to be selling counterfeit goods infringing copy rights.
According to the statement, customs officers garnered information through the big data system and analysed people’s reports and tracked down the three shops located in San Kio district and the Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro neighbourhood that were selling bogus goods.
The statement noted that on Wednesday, the customs officers concluded it was the “right time” to take action, so they proceeded to search the shops and confiscated 1,396 products for violating copy rights, which included clothing, snapbacks and backpacks. The statement noted that the officers arrested a local male and a local female, age 29 and 27 respectively.
The statement said that if the items were genuine, they would retail for 430,000 patacas. The statement underlined that the bogus items were analysed by the various brands’ appraisers and determined to be counterfeits.
The statement said that one of the people in charge confessed that the items were bought in the mainland for 18 to 35 yuan and were being resold for 50 to 100 patacas.
According to the statement, the male suspect was in charge of the three shops, while the female suspect was the manager of one of the shops. The statement added that the duo were transferred to the Public Prosecution Office (MP). According to the Industrial Property Code Decree-Law No 97/99/M, the suspects could face up to six months in jail.
The Macau Customs Service vowed to strengthen cooperation between regions and cities and continue to crack down on shops that violate copy rights, as it is a “serious” offence. It urged residents who suspect shops selling counterfeit products to contact info@customs.gov.mo or call the Customs Service’s 24-hour hotline on 2896 5001.
This undated handout photo provided by the Macau Customs Service on Friday shows confiscated counterfeits, including clothing, snapbacks and backpacks, from the three shops.
