Dubai: Dubai Police arrested a man who was selling fake luxury watches and seized 70,000 such watches stored in an apartment in Naif area.
Colonel Salah Bu Osaiba, director of the Department of Anti-Economic Crimes at Dubai Police, said the suspect was running a watch shop and was selling fakes of expensive brands to customers.
“He was selling fake expensive watches in his shop. We set a trap and arrested him and he led us to an apartment nearby where we found 70,000 fake watches purportedly of famous brands. If those watches were real, their value could reach Dh27 million,” Colonel Bu Osaiba said.
Dubai Police recorded 243 cases of trading in and possessing fake products and piracy in 2017 involving a total estimated value of Dh288 million.
Fake watches is on the top of the list of fake products seized by Dubai Police while cosmetic products came second.
Colonel Bu Osaiba said officers receive information about fake products through sources and from companies themselves.
“It is a global trade that damages legitimate businesses. Sellers [of fake goods] were targeted in a large number of raids and seizures. We conduct inspections in shops and industrial areas in Dubai and also raise awareness among the public,” Col Bu Osaiba added.
He called on the people to report immediately if they come across counterfeit goods or if they have any information on them.
Major-General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs of the Dubai Police, said combating economic crimes is very important in Dubai as it affects the famous brands being sold here.
“We use the latest technology to tackle such crimes and protect the rights of the legitimate brands. We provide protection to hundreds of famous brands. We work closely with the big companies and respond to any complaints regarding counterfeit products,” Maj-Gen Al Mansouri added.
