Branded jewellery fakes seized in raids
Counterfeit items worth Dh300,000 seized from Abu Dhabi outlets and Ajman warehouse
Authorities recently conducted a multi-emirate operation against a group of companies that peddled fake jewellery worth more than Dh300,000 that could potentially pose health hazards to consumers. Abu Dhabi Police and Ajman Police raided retail outlets in the capital and a warehouse in Ajman where more than 1,600 fake copies of luxury jewellery brands Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels designs were found.
Some 600 counterfeit bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings, and pendants were seized from the retail outlets while more than 1,000 fake goods were confiscated from the warehouse in Ajman.
“Usually, most raids are completed in one day but in this case, the action began in Abu Dhabi in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Police and the targets were five retail outlets selling counterfeit jewellery items infringing designs of Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels designs,” Ignacio Giacchi from the Bayt Al Hekhma Consulting that represents both brands told Gulf News.
“After raiding all the target outlets in the capital, the Abu Dhabi Police, who were very cooperative and very determined, decided to get a warrant to go and raid the warehouse where they keep the largest stock in Ajman,” he added.
Giacchi said the raiding team had to stay inside the warehouse for seven hours while obtaining the proper warrant to seize the goods to prevent infringers from hiding the goods or tampering with evidence.
Giacchi said criminal action will be taken against the businessmen. They are waiting for orders to destroy the goods valued at Dh322,000 to deter others from engaging in commercial fraud.
Sellers of knock-offs can be slapped with a fine of between Dh50,000 and Dh250,000 and/or a jail term of not more than two years. The fine is increased to a maximum of Dh1 million and a two-year imprisonment for fake goods that negatively impact human health.
Getting these counterfeit goods off the shelves is the first line of protection for consumers, Giacchi said.