August 5, 2011

               

        

    The relentless drive against counterfeit products scored anew as some P300 million worth of fake imported bags, backpacks and  wallets were seized by a joint team of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) operatives during a raid of an outlet in Binondo, Manila yesterday.

        In a report submitted by the NBI-Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) headed by HA Rommel J. Vallejo to NBI Director Magtanggol B. Gatdula, the case stemmed from a request for assistance regarding the enforcement  of a Mission Order and Letter of Authority at an outlet located at 4^th floor ACLEM Bldg. Juan Luna St., Binondo, Manila.

        At about 8:30 in the morning of 04 August 2011 operatives of BOC-IPRD and NBI-IPRD conducted a joint operation on the above stated address and served the MO and LOA. Found inside the premises were counterfeit products such as Hermes, Longchamp, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Lesportsac bags, Northface backpacks, Lacoste wallets, and other fake items with estimated value of (Php 300,000,000.00). Coordination was made by the raiding team with barangay officials.

         The counterfeit goods are now under the custody of the BOC-IPRD. The respective chiefs of the intellectual property rights division of the NBI and BOC have agreed for follow-up investigation to uncover identities of people behind the crime syndicates involved in the smuggling of counterfeit goods in the country. The joint efforts of both agencies have proven effective in the campaign against counterfeiting and piracy