The Macau Customs Service said yesterday that its officers and Public Security Police officers jointly busted three separate cases involving the selling of counterfeit products – Iphones and watches.
A customs spokesperson made the announcement in a press conference.
According to the spokesperson, three men from the mainland are suspects in the three separate cases. The three suspects are aged between 22 and 23.
According to the spokesperson, the bogus items included seven Iphones and four watches complete with bogus logos of “Vacheron Constantin”, ”Patek Philippe” and Cartier”.
The spokesperson told The Macau Post Daily that PSP and customs officers have increased their patrols around the city’s tourist hotspots which had become the “black spots” for selling counterfeit items.
On Monday, PSP and customs officers patrolled the city centre and the neighbourhood around the St Paul’s Ruins. During the patrol, the officers noticed three suspects in different locations in two areas trying to sell their “Iphones” and watches to people they met in the two areas, said the spokesperson, adding that the officers took them to the customs headquarters for further investigation.
The customs officers later confirmed that the Iphones and watches were all counterfeit, said the spokesperson, adding that the suspects paid about 500 yuan (660 patacas) for each watch but sold them for HK$1,000 (1030 patacas) while they paid 180 to 300 yuan for each counterfeit Iphone but were selling them for 500 to 1,000 patacas.
The spokesperson said that the maximum penalty for infringing the property rights of brand owners is five years behind bars.
The Macau Customs Service said on Monday that a 22-year-old man from the mainland was arrested for his suspected involvement in selling six counterfeit Iphones during a joint swoop carried out by customs and PSP officers on Sunday. (macaunews)
