Zhuhai Gongbei Customs announced in a statement yesterday that its officers separately seized 2,400 cigarettes and 26,260 items violating the intellectual property rights of the Chinese mainland’s POP MART brand.
On August 10, customs officers at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai checkpoint noticed a double plate vehicle with abnormal images when passing through the X-ray machine.
A follow-up inspection revealed 12 cartons totalling 2,400 cigarettes of the “Double Happiness” (雙喜) brand in a compartment hidden in the car door panel.
Gongbei Customs reminded the public that tobacco products are restricted items for entry into the Chinese mainland. According to relevant regulations, frequent border crossers (those entering the mainland more than once within 15 days) are allowed a duty-free allowance of 40 cigarettes (including heated cigarettes), or two cigars, or 40 grams of pipe tobacco each time they enter the mainland.
Meanwhile, Zhuhai Gongbei Customs announced in a separate statement yesterday that its officers at the delta bridge had recently busted a smuggling case involving bogus “Labubu”* products from POP MART, totalling 26,260 items that violate the intellectual property rights of the Chinese mainland’s POP MART brand.
At night on July 14, customs officers at the delta bridge Zhuhai checkpoint outbound freight inspection site noticed a lorry displaying abnormal images through the X-ray check. A follow-up inspection revealed plush toys marked with the “POP MART” brand logo, containing 26,260 items.
Customs officials have meanwhile confirmed with the copyrights holder that the plush toys were using the “POP MART” logo without authorisation, violating trademark rights and intellectual copyrights. The rights holder has requested that Gongbei Customs protect the brand’s IP.
In the statement, Gongbei Customs reminded the public that, according to the “Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China”, importers, exporters, and their agents must accurately declare the intellectual property (IP) status of goods to customs and submit relevant certification documents. Goods that infringe intellectual property rights protected by [mainland] Chinese laws and regulations will be confiscated and may incur fines; if a crime has been committed, criminal liability will be pursued.
*The popular Labubu plush toys, which have become collectible items, are often sold in blind boxes (also called mystery boxes or black boxes), where the exact design the buyers get is random unless they buy a full case or identify them by weight or feel. POP MART is a leading mainland Chinese designer toy and collectibles brand that has gained global popularity for its trendy blind box figures and art toys. – DeepSeek
This undated handout photo provided by Zhuhai Gongbei Customs yesterday shows 12 cartons containing 2,400 cigarettes from the mainland Chinese brand “Double Happiness” (雙喜), seized by customs officers at the Zhuhai checkpoint of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge on August 10.
This undated handout photo provided by Zhuhai Gongbei Customs yesterday shows 26,260 counterfeit Labubu plush toys marked with the “POP MART” brand logo seized by customs officers at the Zhuhai checkpoint of the Hong Kong-Zhahai-Macao Bridge on July 14.
