Apparel arrest: Customs officers raid the 'mega sale' in a North Point hotel.

Customs officers have shut down a counterfeit clothes syndicate, which has been arranging 'mega sales' in hotels.

After a week-long investigation based on a tip-off, officers raided a North Point hotel's function room yesterday and found 1,757 clothing items of more than 10 top brand names, worth $150,000. A man and three women, aged 21 to 50, were arrested.

By advertising in newspapers and selling counterfeit goods at low prices, the 'mega sale' attracted a lot of customers.

Trade Descriptions Investigation Divisional Commander Samson Chiu reminded business owners that anyone who contravenes the Trade Descriptions Ordinance is liable to a $500,000 fine and five years prison. He called on hotels to report suspected counterfeiting activities.