KUALA LUMPUR – A massive operation led to the uncovering of thousands of counterfeit jeans bearing famous brands, smuggled from Bangladesh through Port Klang to the capital using containers, on Wednesday.
The operation, conducted by a team of officers and members from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Kuala Lumpur, along with brand representatives, commenced at approximately 9:20 PM following three weeks of intelligence gathering and investigation. Sinar Harian, accompanying the operation in Lorong Merbau, Off Jalan Kenanga, reported that the syndicate’s modus operandi involved employing around 20 Bangladeshi nationals to unload boxes filled with branded and non-branded clothing from the containers.
To avoid detection by KPDN, these activities were carried out at night, irrespective of the day. The syndicate’s attempt to mislead authorities involved stacking boxes containing thousands of suspected counterfeit jeans at the very front, followed by piles of other clothing boxes.
It is believed this tactic was also meant to deceive customs inspections at the port.
Sinar Harian understands that the clothing was to be distributed among five to six key players around Jalan Kenanga before being sold wholesale and retail.
Nurul Syarina Md Anuar, Chief Enforcement Officer of KPDN Kuala Lumpur, stated that their investigations revealed the clothing was imported from Bangladesh and delivered by a forwarding agent to traders around Jalan Kenanga. She noted that the raid uncovered 704 boxes containing various garments for inspection.
“Most of these containers are filled with clothing of various brands imported from Bangladesh, and not all items have registered trademarks. The raid discovered 210 boxes containing jeans suspected of being falsely branded, totaling 9,100 pairs valued at RM406,000,” she told Sinar Harian on Thursday.
Nurul Syarina added that KPDN detained a 41-year-old container truck driver to assist in the investigation.
All seized items have been taken to KPDN Kuala Lumpur’s Exhibit Store for further action. The case is being investigated under the Trade Marks Act 2019.
