Half a million fake items seized in two months

The Customs Department said yesterday that it had seized 19 containers with more than 500,000 counterfeit products during the first two months of this year.

In a statement, Customs said that among the products found in the containers were counterfeit watches, men's clothes, belts, spectacles, sports wear, shoes and slippers that were labelled with fake brand names.

Other fake goods seized included mobile telephone accessories, batteries and shaving blades.

The department said that as soon as court procedures are completed these products will be destroyed.

According to Michel Danet, general secretary of the World Customs Organisation, the marketing of counterfeit products is increasing at an alarming rate not only in quantity and value but also in the variety of products that range from baby food to aircraft engines.