Hong Kong’s customs officers have seized approximately 9,200 suspected counterfeit items worth HK$15 million in September in the largest online sale of counterfeit goods case on record and arrested seven persons in this connection.

The seized items include health products, leather goods, skincare products, watches, and medicines labelled as Part 1 poisons. Those health products have been sent to the Government Laboratory for safety testing, Hong Kong Customs said in a statement on Friday.

Officers launched an investigation upon receiving complaints from members of the public and trademark owners about alleged sale of suspected counterfeit health products through social media.

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After a comprehensive investigation, officers searched three industrial units in Yuen Long, including two logistics company storages and one express logistics company operation center, on Sept 9.

About 7,500 suspected counterfeit items were seized, and four men and three women, aged between 24 and 57, were arrested, according to the statement.

All the arrestees were released on bail later pending further investigation, and further arrests are not ruled out.

After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers further seized 1,700 suspected counterfeit items from the transit hub of the express logistics company on Sept 12.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses any goods for sale or for a trade-related purpose may commit an offense if those goods have forged trademarks. The maximum penalty is a fine of HK$500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Contact the writer at thor_wu@chinadailyhk.com