Dubai: The Anti-Economic Crime Department is stepping up inspections and raids on premises selling or storing counterfeit items.
Colonel Abdullah Rashid, Director of the Anti-Economic Crime Department at Dubai Police’s CID, said police efforts are making a dent in the mega-million dollar underground fake brands global industry.
In the first three months of 2015, for example, the anti-commercial fraud and piracy division of the department handled 79 cases and arrested 86 suspects. The products seized were worth more than Dh1.72 million.
In 2014, the same division, handled 217 cases, arrested 250 suspects and seized products worth more than Dh98.9 million.
In 2014, Dh1 billion worth was seized by the three divisions of the Anti-Economic Crime Department.
“People need to know that these items can pose a health risk to them. People don’t think that fake bags or belts can harm them but there has been tests that show that these fake leather items produce harmful chemicals that can affect their health and could even lead to cancer,” Col Rashid said.
He added that usually people who sell fake products hide those products in apartments or well hidden shops in back streets, “and when you go with them to these places, how can you tell if they are not tricking you to rob or attack you, especially if you are a woman.”
Raid on luxury villa
Despite the successes, Dubai Police face criminals who are getting smarter in their attempts to outwit police.
In a recent raid, Col Rashid said a man of Asian descent was arrested after Dubai Police stormed a luxury villa in Mizhar, which was being used for storing and packaging fake bags. The villa was raided in March after a team from the department’s anti-commercial fraud and piracy division noticed suspicious activity over a period of time.
The anti-commercial fraud and piracy division is one of three divisions at the Anti-Economic Crime Department, the other two being the anti-fraud and swindling division and anti-forgery divisions.
Police made their move after confirming those suspicions and getting the required warrants.
Col Rashid said the suspect thought he would be able to go unnoticed because of the location he was using, as usually people dealing in counterfeit items store their hauls in warehouses or in apartments in commercial areas known for selling counterfeit items.
“We arrested the man who was renting out the villa and dealing in counterfeits. When we raided the apartment we found bags that the suspect said he imported from China, bar code makers and packaging that the bags would be packed into to make the items look like the authentic brand.” Col Rashid said.
The Department of Economic Development was also part of this operation.
The man was charged with trademark infringement.
