KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has raided four business premises in Petaling Street and seized counterfeit jerseys of various brands, worth RM450,000.
Kuala Lumpur branch ministry director Ariffin Samsudin said the raid was conducted after two weeks of intelligence work by his team and trademark owners against the premises football jerseys competing in the 2024 UEFA Euro tournament.
He said the raid on two stalls and two storage facilities which had been operating for a year uncovered a total of 6,230 counterfeit jerseys of various brands, estimated to be worth RM450,000.
"Investigations found that these jerseys were sourced from abroad and were to be sold at RM140 each to customers, given the anticipated increase in demand for football team jerseys in conjunction with the tournament," he said at a press conference here on Wednesday (June 12).
He added that his team also seized three machines used for printing numbers and logos on the jerseys, worth a total of RM15,000.
According to Ariffin, the raided premises also took bulk orders from traders outside the Klang Valley. He added that efforts to track down the owners of premises are underway, in collaboration with Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
He said the case is being investigated under the Trademarks Act 2019 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
He added that they recorded 55 cases this year under the Trademarks Act 2019, the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 and the Copyright Act 1987, with the value of seizures amounting to RM1.6mil, involving the confiscation of 32,700 units of goods.
"During the same period, the ministry also detained seven individuals related to intellectual property offences," he said.
He said the ministry welcomes ongoing cooperation from registered trademark owners to combat the distribution and sale of counterfeit goods.
"Consumers are also advised not to support the sale of counterfeit jerseys, and the ministry will not tolerate any parties violating the law," he added. – Bernama
