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SEDD And Casio Crackdown On Counterfeiters In UAE |
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10,440 Fake Casio Watches Seized In Two Raids By SEDDCASIO, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions, teams up with Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) to combat trade in counterfeit goods to protect consumer rights. Raids conducted in Sharjah, UAE saw over 10,440 fake CASIO watches seized this summer. In a bid to clamp down on commercial fraud in the region, CASIO’s cooperation with SEDD led to an initial surprise raid on the 22nd of June, which resulted in the confiscation of 5,540 counterfeit CASIO watches, and a subsequent raid on the 13th of July that saw 4,900 fake watches seized by the authorities. Shuichi Kanno of Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan commented, “Counterfeit products are infecting nearly every industry and it is a cause for serious concern for manufacturers like us. Besides the financial implications, counterfeits cause serious damage to the reputation of the original brand, as these products are by class inferior, lack the craftsmanship and attention to detail the original has built over several years or decades.” CASIO’s on-going efforts to combat counterfeits and raise public awareness of the negative consequences related to dealing with fake products has been supported positively by governing authorities, including SEDD. Partnerships such as this have helped in the recovery and destruction of 200,000 counterfeit CASIO products since 2003 in the UAE. Counterfeiting is a multi-billion dollar global trade, with a variety of products being passed off as originals’ including watches, handbags, apparel, perfume, toys and automotive parts to name a few, resulting in loss worth billions to economies and traders around the globe. In the UAE, the import and distribution of counterfeit products is illegal with serious penalties for those found guilty. Any counterfeit products recovered from raids will be confiscated and destroyed. |
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