Dubai: The Department of Economic Development has seized one million pieces of fake and counterfeit weight loss drugs, sexual performance enhancers and cosmetics worth Dh17 million in a raid of two warehouses.
It took the team from the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) 10 hours to size up the merchandise in the warehouse to verify and identify which items were counterfeit and which were fake.
The confiscated goods meant for the local market will be destroyed while those stored for re-export will be sent back to their country of origin. The Department will also impose fines on the violators.
The raids were part of the Department’s efforts to protect trademarks and to keep the market free of unhealthy products and practices.
Abdullah Al Shehi, Director of Intellectual Property Protection Department at CCCP, said: “We monitor the market and take action against those violating trademarks as such steps are necessary to protect Dubai’s reputation as a trading hub and preferred business destination.”
Ebrahim Behzad, Senior Manager in the Intellectual Property Rights section of the Department, thanked trade mark owners for registering their products and providing updates on products and techniques for identifying counterfeits to CCCP teams through workshops and similar sessions.
“Fake products, particularly medicines and cosmetics, not only violate trademarks but also lead to negative, and sometimes long-term impacts on public health. Consumers not only lose money buying them but the contents of some of these products such as performance enhancers can also cause cancers if not stored properly,” Behzad said.
Consumers can send complaints and information on counterfeit products to the Department to the Ahlan Dubai call centre number on 600 54 5555 or the website www.sallety.ae
