Key facts
- Hong Kong customs seized an estimated $20 million in counterfeit World Cup merchandise.
- The seizure included approximately 230,000 items, such as 30,000 football jerseys.
- Other seized items included footwear, watches, speakers, and handbags.
- The counterfeit goods were primarily destined for overseas markets, with 80% headed to the Americas.
- In a separate operation, customs intercepted HK$10 million in smuggled goods, including weight-loss injections and fish maw.
- Six people were arrested in connection with the counterfeit merchandise operation.
Hong Kong customs authorities announced the seizure of approximately $20 million worth of counterfeit goods, including about 30,000 football jerseys, just hours before the World Cup was scheduled to begin. The operation, code-named “Clean Sheet,” uncovered 29 suspected smuggling cases and five online sales cases involving World Cup products.
Wayne Chung, a senior inspector with the customs department, stated that some of the counterfeit jerseys were of high quality and difficult to distinguish from authentic versions. The seized items, which also included footwear, watches, speakers, and handbags, were reportedly destined for overseas markets, with nearly 80% intended for shipment to the Americas, where the World Cup is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
In a separate incident at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge crossing, customs arrested a 39-year-old truck driver and seized approximately HK$10 million (US$1.27 million) in smuggled goods. The vehicle, bound for Macau, was found to contain undeclared cosmetic injections, weight-loss injections, suspected Part 1 poisons, and about 270kg of fish maw, mixed with declared cargo.
Authorities believe smugglers are increasingly using this tactic of concealing illicit items within legitimate shipments to evade detection. Six individuals were arrested in connection with the counterfeit merchandise operation and have since been released on bail. Customs indicated that anyone convicted of importing, exporting, selling, or possessing counterfeit goods faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of approximately $64,000.