Strike against automotive counterfeiting in Ireland
During a raid in the county of Monaghan in the north of Ireland, Garda Síochána officials reportedly seized fake car parts worth half a million euros. Most of the items seized by Gardai are suspected counterfeits of Toyota-branded spare parts, including bull bars, tail lights, mud flaps, and body parts for Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps. The raid was part of a nationwide investigation into the import and sale of counterfeit car parts. As of yet, no arrests have been made in the case; the investigation is ongoing.
South Korean police take counterfeit electronics off the streets
Fake smartphone accessories worth one billion won (about 775,000 euros) were confiscated by South Korean police in the province of Gyeonggi, located near Seoul. The potentially dangerous counterfeits – which included charging cables and headphones – illegally carried the Apple brand. The local dealers of the fake accessories, which were apparently manufactured in China, are still under investigation. In the meantime, Apple is said to have given its thanks to the local authorities for the successful operation: According to Korean media reports, a brand representative presented officers involved with a plaque of appreciation to thank them for their efforts.
Munich customs stop half a million euros’ worth of fakes
Counterfeit fashion items of well-known manufacturers with a market value of over half a million euros were intercepted by customs officials at Munich Airport. According to official reports, the fake goods included clothing, handbags, and other luxury accessories. The fakes were discovered in several pieces of luggage belonging to a man travelling in from China. Proceedings for violation of the trademark law and tax evasion are now under way.
Chinese counterfeiting ring worth millions busted
In several raids, Chinese police cracked down on a widely-active counterfeiting syndicate. According to current reports by local media, the gang ran a large-scale scam copying products of the English electronics manufacturer Dyson. During raids carried out in two illegal workshops, investigators seized hundreds of fake hairdryers as well as numerous electronic components and manufacturing equipment. A total of 36 suspects are said to have been arrested. The counterfeiters had apparently sold the fake hairdryers via various online trading platforms at discount prices of up to 50% below the originals’ market prices. This way, the fraudsters made an alleged profit of approx. 1.3 million euros (approx. 10 million yuan), according to media reports. The scam was busted in August when customer complaints about the fakes’ inferior quality reached Chinese authorities.
