RCMP conduct sweep for Counterfeit Merchandise

LONDON , ON, Oct. 16 /CNW/ - The London Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Federal Enforcement Section (FES), have been conducting a sweep for counterfeit merchandise throughout various communities located in Oxford, Lambton, Elgin and Middlesex counties over the past several weeks. As a result of the sweep, eighteen Counterfeit Product Notices have been served and hundreds of counterfeit merchandise items have been seized or voluntarily turned over to the RCMP for destruction.

"The London Detachment of the RCMP will continue these enforcement activities, and will not only expand to other areas in the region in the weeks and months ahead, but also other types of products to remove these potentially dangerous and sub-standard imitations," stated Inspector Blok, Officer in Charge of the RCMP London Detachment. "Our goal is to increase consumer awareness about the health and safety dangers of counterfeit products, and the impact to the economy in order to help protect Canadians".

Counterfeit Product Notices are a warning. It allows officers to educate merchants in regards to offences associated to selling counterfeit products and remove the illegal items without proceeding with criminal charges. Several of the retailers involved in this sweep were not aware that it is an offence in Canada to sell and distribute merchandise bearing unlicensed or unregistered trademarks without the permission of the trademark owner.

"One of the mandates of the RCMP London FES is consumer protection. Counterfeit merchandise has no safety standards, therefore even the most benign of items can have serious issues such as the materials used in the manufacturing of these products," stated Inspector Dwight Blok . "They are simply unknown and not controlled through safety standards - these items include sunglasses and blankets like the ones we recently have come in contact with."

Anyone with information regarding the sale and/or manufacturing of counterfeit merchandise is asked to contact the RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-265-4444.

For further information: Cpl. Darren Morgan, Media Relation Officer, London Detachment, RCMP "O" Division, Office: [phone] ext. 230, Cell: [phone]