Philippines seizes millions in Louis
Vuitton fakes
MANILA (AFP) - Philippine law-enforcers seized over 28,000 pieces
of counterfeit Louis
Vuitton goods worth over four million dollars in a
crackdown in Manila, a justice department report said Wednesday 3
March.
In raids on a shopping mall and warehouse that began on February 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 (4.65
million dollars).
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.