P15.8B worth of fake global brand items seized in Divisoria
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) and global fashion brand Guess are ramping up the fight against counterfeit products following a recent seizure of more than 1.7 million fake items with an estimated value of P15.8 billion in Divisoria, Manila.
The BOC said in a statement the bureau, together with Kristian Nico Acosta, legal head of Guess Group in the Philippines, inspected on May 23 several warehouses in a commercial complex in Divisoria, Manila, where the bureau uncovered and seized 1.727 million pieces of counterfeit products.
The fake items included bags, clothes and accessories illegally using the trademarks of well-known global brands such as Guess, Michael Kors, Coach, Louis Vuitton and Tory Burch.
“These fakes aren’t just illegal. They endanger consumers and destroy legitimate businesses,” Acosta said.
He said the target of the recent operation had long been on Guess’ internal watchlist and had also been flagged by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
The brand’s in-house investigations confirmed that these counterfeiters had been distributing fakes through both physical stores and online platforms, putting consumers and brand reputation at risk.
“I’ve been doing enforcement, especially with the BOC, for more than a decade, and under the leadership of (customs) commissioner (Bienvenido) Rubio, we saw dynamic developments, which involve the utilization of technological tools in pinpointing and tracking counterfeiters, in collaborating with brand owners, and most importantly, a simplified process in prosecuting counterfeiters and illegal importers of counterfeit goods,” Acosta added.
He also cited BOC’s commitment to the E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024, which calls for proactive enforcement not only in taking down infringing online posts but also in ensuring that those behind them are held accountable through legal action.
Rubio reaffirmed the BOC’s stance on protecting intellectual property and consumer safety.
“We are serious about our mission to keep counterfeit goods out of the country. This is about protecting the public, supporting legitimate businesses, and ensuring a level playing field in the market,” Rubio said.
