P152M worth of counterfeit footwear seized

MANILA, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police seized P152 million worth of counterfeit footwear products in Pampanga on Saturday.

The CIDG Pampanga Field Unit and local police, in coordination with the lawyers of the footwear company, served search warrants on “Chongjian,” a Chinese national allegedly operating a counterfeit production ring, named Apexel, in Global Aseana Park 2 in San Simon town.

The Chinese was not found.

READ: Counterfeit capital

In a report on Sunday, the CIDG said the search warrants were issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 24 for violations of the Intellectual Property Code.

The CIDG operation seized over 45,000 pairs of counterfeit footwear bearing the trademark “Crocs,” molding plates, raw materials, machinery, sales invoices, and order slips.

All confiscated evidence has been turned over to the Crocs representatives for safekeeping pending the clarificatory hearing scheduled for Feb. 26, 2025. —PNA