Dubai: A total of 3.5 million fake branded products, including sun and prescription glasses, smartphones and mobile phone accessories worth Dh195 million, have been seized by the Dubai Department of Economic development (DED).
According to Mohammad Lootah, Executive Director at the Commercial Control and Consumer Protection Sector at the Dubai Department of Economic Development, the confiscation of counterfeit products is the largest ever by the department. It comes in line with DED’s strategy to preserve the intellectual rights of brands and get rid of fraudulent and fake products in the local market. This approach will reflect positively on consumers and protect them from commercial fraud and preserve the rights of brand owners, he added.
The seized products, all bearing names of international brands, included 2.6 fake glasses worth Dh125 million, 61,768 smartphones and 899 mobile phone accessories worth Dh70 million.
The fake branded products were found in three stores in Al Ghusais and International City, as a work team from the Directorate of Intellectual Property Rights at the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Sector at the Dubai Department of Economic Development carried out inspection raids.
The IPR’s work team usually carries out regular and surprise raids on firms and stores to ensure that that the local market is free from fake products and to protect consumer rights.
The fake products will be destroyed as they pose a risk to consumers’ health as a result of their poor manufacturing, Lootah said.
He added the move is in harmony with the Dubai government’s policy to enhance economic activity in a transparent manner.
Lootah warned consumers against falling prey to some traders who resort to manipulating and counterfeiting products that do not meet standards and specifications.
Ebrahim Behzad, Director of DED’s Intellectual Property Rights sector, said dealers of fake products are using the latest technology and techniques to hide trademarks the moment the products enter the country.
