MONTRÉAL, Thursday March 29, 2007 – Officers of the Montréal
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Federal Investigations Section,
in co-operation with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Investigations
Division in Montréal, seized more than 4,600 suspected counterfeit
fashion accessories in a container coming from China.
This seizure is the result of the joint efforts of RCMP and CBSA investigators
who worked together as part of Project Castille. This Project is aimed
at preventing the importation of counterfeit goods into Canada and prosecuting
those who contravene the Customs Act, Copyright Act, and Trade-marks
Act.
From Vancouver to Montréal
The goods arrived in Vancouver by boat. The importer, a Montréal
resident, had reported the goods to Customs as furniture. Using VACIS
gamma ray technology, Vancouver Border Officers located several boxes
that had not been reported inside the container.
Once the container reached Montréal, it was searched by CBSA
and RCMP investigators who found 2,400 handbags passed as Chanel, Gucci,
Prada, Versace and Fendi, 1,800 belts identified as Dolce and Gabbana,
Giorgio Armani and Versace as well as 400 empty cases bearing the logos
of major watch brand names such as Rolex, Cartier and Breitling. Upon
further investigation, it was discovered that the address of the consignee
was not for a furniture store but curiously for a post office box.
An alleged furniture importer
As part of their investigation, RCMP and CBSA officers also searched
the residence of the alleged furniture importer on Nuns Island in Verdun.
They recovered a small number of counterfeit items – mainly handbags – and
records related not only to this shipment but to other planned shipments
as well.
The Canada Border Services Agency is expected to file smuggling charges
against the suspect under the Customs Act. RCMP Federal Investigations
Section could also accuse the alleged furniture importer under the Copyright
Act for importing for sale infringing copies of works.
"The investigation is still ongoing. Additional charges could be
laid in this case. We invite consumers not to encourage the sale of counterfeit
goods as the profits from illicit sales benefit criminals at the expense
of retailers," said Corporal Luc Bessette of the RCMP Communications
Office.
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For information:
Corporal Luc Bessette
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Communications Office
(514) 939-8308
Amélie Morin
Canada Border Services Agency
Communications Office
(514) 350-6130
