bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Clifford Lo

Hong Kong customs officers have raided three chain stores after discovering the outlets had claw machines filled with about 3,000 fake brand-name perfume products instead of toys – a find considered to be the first of its kind for the department.
The fakes carried luxury brand labels, with the goods having an estimated street value of around HK$110,000 (US$14,100), the Customs and Excise Department said on Wednesday.
Among the fakes were perfumes with Chanel and Dior labels.
According to the department, six claw machines worth about HK$60,000 were also confiscated in the operation.
A shop owner and her female employee were arrested following the seizure of the counterfeit products in Tuesday’s raids on the three claw machine stores in Kwai Chung and Tsuen Wan.
“These machines, storing fake brand-name perfumes, were usually placed near the front door of the shops in an effort to attract customers,” Senior Inspector Chau Hoi-man of customs’ intellectual property investigation bureau said.
He said the seized perfumes came in small bottles that official brands did not use.
“Customers were told that the perfumes were genuine samples sold at a lower price,” Chau said.
He said it was the first time that customs officers had discovered claw machine stores offering fake brand-name perfumes.
A source familiar with the incident said a bottle of the fake perfume was worth between HK$30 and HK$50, with each game for these claw machines costing HK$5. The counterfeits went for about 20 to 50 per cent of the genuine product price.
When asked about the chances of winning a bottle, he said: “It all depends on your luck.”
Customs officers are looking into how long the three stores have been offering fake brand-name perfumes and are also looking into the origin of the counterfeit goods.
The raids were part of an operation running from August 8 to Tuesday following complaints lodged to the department.
After an extensive investigation with the help of copyright owners, customs officers raided the three claw machine stores and another seven stores in Mong Kok, Tung Chung and Sai Kung. The other seven comprised three pharmacies and four retail outlets.
The senior inspector said about 5,000 counterfeit products were seized along with the six claw machines from the 10 shops. Four men and four women were rounded up in the operation.

Chau said the fakes consisted of skin care products, cosmetic goods and perfumes, estimated to have a combined street value of HK$270,000.
He warned that since the seized products were intended for direct use on the skin, their lack of quality assurance raised health and safety concerns. He added that samples would be taken to a government laboratory for testing.
The eight suspects have been released on bail, pending further investigation.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, selling or possessing for sale any product with a forged trademark is punishable by up to five years in prison and a HK$500,000 fine.
The department said the investigation was still ongoing and further arrests were possible.


Hong Kong police charge man, 57, over allegedly making seditious online posts

Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong hits out after UK official meets Jimmy Lai son

Hong Kong policeman jailed for 6 months, fined for drink-driving after high-speed chase

115 Hongkongers lose HK$22 million in a week in click farming scams

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong customs uncovers claw machines offering fake luxury perfumes at 3 stores

Senior Inspector Chau Hoi-man of customs’ intellectual property investigation bureau says it is first time his department has discovered claw machine stores offering fake brand-name perfumes. Photo: May Tse

Customs has also raised health and safety concerns about the seized products, given they were intended for direct use on skin. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong customs seizes HK$104 million of gold in less than 5 months after fresh bust

Hong Kong customs has foiled yet another attempt to smuggle gold disguised as machine parts. Photo: Sam Tsang

Customs has confiscated 12kg of gold in the latest seizure. Sam Tsang

Hong Kong customs arrests man flying from Netherlands over HK$1.6 million ketamine haul

In Hong Kong, trafficking in a dangerous drug can lead to a maximum penalty of a HK$5 million and life imprisonment. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

The man was intercepted during a customs check at Hong Kong airport after flying to the city from the Netherlands. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Hong Kong customs seizes HK$5.8 million of heroin hidden in durian shipment

Officers found about 8.4kg of suspected heroin in air consignment from Malaysia that was declared as carrying durian and mochi. Photo: Handout

Heroin seized by authorities had a market value of HK$5.8 million. Photo: Handout

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

About 3,000 fake perfumes sporting Chanel and Dior labels found in six claw machines, with counterfeits estimated to be worth HK$110,000


About 3,000 fake perfumes sporting Chanel and Dior labels found in six claw machines, with counterfeits estimated to be worth around HK$110,000.
