Counterfeit brand name goods being mailed overseas during the past two weeks have been confiscated by customs authorities as China clamps down on intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement. The swoop in Sichuan Province resulted in 58 counterfeit items being confiscated.

The articles seized by Chengdu Customs included world-famous brands such as Coach, Louis Vuitton, Juicy Couture and Gucci, said customs official Yue Chongguang. 

Most of the fake goods including shoes and handbags were being mailed directly to buyers or retailers in the United States, Japan and Britain, said Yue.

The cases, however, don't often lead to charges as culprits give false contact information to the post office, said Li Weihua, another customs official.

These seizures are a signal that China's customs agents will be stringently checking for IPR infringements cases making use of postal services, Li explained. 

Customs at Chengdu would also improve the training and techniques used by customs workers to detect fake goods, said Li.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2006)