Mar 3, 2010
MANILA - PHILIPPINE law-enforcers seized over 28,000 pieces of counterfeit Louis Vuitton goods worth over US$4 million (S$5.6 million) in a crackdown in Manila, a justice department report said on Wednesday.
In raids on a shopping mall and warehouse that began on Feb 24 justice department agents seized handbags, pouches, leather cases, shoulder bags and other accessories bearing the French luxury goods maker's logo.
The department's National Bureau of Investigation said it was the Philippines' biggest seizure of counterfeit items in recent memory, and that the seized items were worth 214.7 million pesos.
The agents were acting on a complaint filed by Louis Vuitton's brand director in the Asia-Pacific region, the bureau added.
The owners and operators of the raided stores and the warehouse face charges of violating intellectual-property laws. If convicted, they could be jailed for up to nine years and incur heavy fines.Business groups have complained that despite the seizure of counterfeit goods in the Philippines, successful prosecutions for piracy remained low due to tough rules on evidence and possible corruption among law-enforcers. -- AFP
