Chinese police raid fake iPhone makers

BEIJING: Chinese police have busted a factory that produced more than 41 000 fake iPhones worth as much as 120 million yuan (R240.6m), including some that reached the US, and have arrested nine suspects in the counterfeiting operation.

Apple is one of the most popular brands in China, where authorities have stepped up efforts in recent years to dispel the country’s reputation for turning out counterfeit goods.

The group, headed by a 43-year old man, surnamed Yu, and his 40-year old wife, surnamed Xie, both from the southern hardware manufacturing city of Shenzhen, allegedly set up the Beijing factory with six assembly lines in January, the bureau said.

They hired “hundreds” of workers to repackage secondhand smartphone components as iPhones for export, it added.

Beijing police said their investigation followed a tip-off from US authorities who seized some of the fake devices. The destination of the phones, and how many made it there, remains unknown.

Public security representa- tives declined to comment on Monday, telling Reuters they had no additional information. Apple also declined to comment, saying the investigation was still under way.

Plots to exploit the popular Apple products have been been exposed in 2011, with more than a dozen stores found in China resembling the brands. – Reuters