Recent Raids & Arrests
The Cebu Sun Star reports that the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation-Intellectual Property Rights Division (NBI-IPRDR) has raided three stores engaged in software piracy, seizing several computers and CD-ROM installers as well as various versions and editions of Microsoft Windows and Office.
South Carolina news station WLTX reports that authorities in Columbia, South Carolina seized $127,679 in counterfeit goods yesterday. The seized items include jeans, hats, jackets, shirts, shoes, jewelry, watches and sunglasses. The counterfeited brands include Bape, Burberry, Chanel, Coach, Evisu, Fendi, Lacoste, LRG, Nike, Phat Farm, Playboy, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Red Monkey, Roca Wear and Timberland. Rafia Rehmani of Columbia has been charged with trafficking in counterfeit merchandise at Cuz Fashions at the Dutch Square Mall in Columbia. Under South Carolina law, trafficking in counterfeit goods is a felony with a fine up to $25,000 and/or five years in prison.
According to the Orange County Register, police in Huntingdon Beach, California seized 800 pairs of counterfeit Oakley sunglasses valued at about $81,000 on November 1st. No arrests have been made pending completion of forensic tests.
The South African Broadcasting Association reports that five people suspected of manufacturing counterfeit DVDs and CDs were arrested and their equipment seized in Kempton Park, South Africa yesterday.