Customs Seize Counterfeit Mooncakes and Lanterns Ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival

Release date: 2024-09-12 13:00

Hong Kong and Macau Crack Down on Counterfeit Goods

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, Customs have seized a batch of suspected counterfeit mooncakes and lanterns, with a total value of about 28,000 yuan, and arrested five people.

Counterfeit Goods Seized

The suspected counterfeit lanterns seized by Customs involved a variety of cartoon characters. In addition, tableware suspected of impersonating famous brands and suspected counterfeit mooncakes were seized.

Operation Details

The operation was carried out from the end of last month to Monday this week. Customs found that an online platform was selling suspected counterfeit mooncakes. A residential unit in the Southern District was searched and 26 boxes of suspected counterfeit mooncakes and 28 sets of suspected counterfeit tableware were seized.

Brands Impersonated

One of the brands, which mainly sells leather goods and fashion, did not produce the mooncakes and tableware in question. The suspected counterfeit goods were sold in sets for 600 to 800 yuan.

As for another brand of mooncakes, the suspected counterfeit goods were sold at a price of about 70% off the genuine goods, and the packaging and printing were more uneven.

Investigation Officer’s Statement

Liu Wenjin, senior investigation officer of the Investigation Division of Customs, said: “The appearance design and registered trademark of the genuine product packaging box were copied. On the front of the packaging box, the genuine product was printed with the word ‘magical’, while the suspected counterfeit mooncakes had a mistake in stringing, with the ‘c’ in ‘magical’ being strung with the ‘e’. The printing on the packaging box was uneven and the convex and concave patterns were also relatively blurred. When the label was opened, a QR code was seen, but it could not be verified through the official mobile phone application.”

Lanterns Seized

Customs also seized 540 suspected counterfeit lanterns in three retail stores in Yuen Long and Tuen Mun, with prices ranging from HK$8 to HK$40, which was 20% to 30% of the genuine products.

Arrests and Market Inspections

Two men and three women aged 21 to 70 were arrested during the operation. Customs said it would strengthen market inspections to crack down on infringing activities involving Mid-Autumn Festival food and supplies, and also reminded consumers to choose reputable merchants.