London RCMP seize Counterfeit Merchandise at the Western Fair

LONDON, ON, Sept. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - On Friday, September 14^th members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police London Detachment discovered vendors at the Western Fairgrounds in London that were in possession of approximately 2800 items believed to be counterfeit goods.  The items were seized and the vendors were served with a Counterfeit Product Notice.

Amongst the alleged counterfeit items were sunglasses, hats, t-shirts, and purses bearing various unlicensed commercial logos including: Apple, Dr. Dre, Monster, Dolce & Gabbana, Oakley, NHL, Harley Davidson, Coach, Louis Vuitton and Prada. These items represent a significant retail loss to the rights holders.

A Counterfeit Product Notice is a written warning, in lieu of criminal charges, that educates merchants regarding offences associated to the sale of counterfeit products.  In the future, if the same vendor is found in possession of counterfeit items, they may be charged under the Trade-marks Act and the Criminal Code.

"The sale of counterfeit items negatively impacts the Canadian economy through the loss of jobs and tax revenue.  Counterfeit offences have been linked to more serious issues such as child labor, drug trafficking, organized crime" stated Staff Sergeant Steve Arthur, acting Officer in Charge of the London RCMP Detachment, "the RCMP is committed to eliminating this type of criminal activity through education and enforcement."

The RCMP wishes to remind the Canadian public thatcounterfeit offences also include the reproduction of safety certification and quality assurance markings on products that do not meet Canadian health and safety standards and as a result, the use of counterfeit products may represent a danger to the consumer.

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.

SOURCE: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Cpl. D'Arcy Cartier
Media Relations Officer
London Detachment
RCMP "O" Division
Office: [phone] ext. 238
D'[email protected]