Customs officers have seized about $2.7 million worth of counterfeit sports shoes, clothing and accessories with false origin descriptions from two incoming river trade vessels on November 19 and 20.

About 9.45pm on November 19, Customs officers searched a 40-foot container on a vessel in the water off Western District and found counterfeit handbags, wallets and clothing.

After a detailed examination of the container at Kwai Chung Customhouse, 132 cartons and one bag of accessories bearing forged trademarks and false origin descriptions with a value of about $2.4 million were found.

In a follow-up raid the next day, Customs officers seized 2,148 pairs of counterfeit sports shoes and 390 rucksacks worth about $300,000 in another container shipped by the same consignor at Kwai Chung Container Terminal.

Counterfeit goods destined for Philippines, Dubai

Enquiries showed the two containers imported from Huang Pu were to be transshipped to Dubai and the Philippines through local shipping companies.

Customs said the department, with the help of advanced technology and proactive intelligence collection, will combat cross-boundary smuggling activities to prevent Hong Kong being used as a transition port for counterfeit goods.