 |
LATIN AMERICA |
| |
Chile, Gateway For Illegal Phony Name Brands
Products Mainly From China
By Kamille Go - Santiago Times
SANTIAGO - Phony name brand products
produced in China are increasingly a
headache for Chile’s customs and police
authorities. More than 22 million US
dollars in fake Barbie Dolls, Chanel
sunglasses and Louis Vuitton purses (among
many other name brand rip-offs) have been
confiscated this year, authorities reported
last week. Chilean ports, it seems, serve as
primary access points for cargo ships
carrying contraband en route to Argentina,
Paraguay Bolivia, and, of course, Chile.
The illegal shipments are mostly organized
by Chinese (80%), Korean and Taiwanese
operators, police officials say.
“We detected a significant quantity of
clothes, cigarettes and electronics are
destined for Argentina, Bolivia and
Paraguay”, said Investigations Police chief
Antonio Milesi. “We’re becoming a conduit,
like what narco-traffickers try to do.”
“These shipments are difficult to detect and
very profitable for importers,” added police
spokesman Patricio Bascuñan. “The products
are appealing because they can be 50 to 60%
cheaper [than their authentic
counterparts].”
The traffickers of these illegal goods have
built sophisticated networks comparable to
those used in international narco-trafficking
operations. Because regulation of shipments
arriving from Asia into Chilean ports has
increased, the traffickers are forced to
create new ways to get products into the
South American market.
Customs Service secretary general Fabian
Villarroel said recent investigations
resulted in the seizure of some 2.4 million
illegal items, especially purses,
sunglasses, watches, footwear and clothing.
The most popular counterfeit brand is
haute-couture mega label Chanel, followed by
Princess (Disney), Louis Vuitton, Barbie
(Mattel), and Emporio Armani.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
