Mumbai, March 20 (NationPress) In a significant operation against fake branded merchandise, the Mumbai Police have dismantled an organised scheme that was selling counterfeit mobile accessories in the Ghatkopar locality. The authorities executed raids that resulted in the confiscation of counterfeit items valued at around Rs 16.33 lakh. Legal action has been initiated against six shopkeepers for their suspected involvement in this illicit activity.

As per police reports, the crackdown was instigated following precise intelligence regarding the distribution of counterfeit mobile accessories being misrepresented as products from Apple Inc. The raids took place in the areas of Patel Chowk and Niloyog Mall in Ghatkopar East, where these items were allegedly being sold openly to unsuspecting customers.

A team from Apple provided support to the police during this operation. Acting promptly on the intelligence received, police formulated a plan and established six different teams to conduct simultaneous raids at various sites, ensuring that the suspects could not escape arrest.

The raids led to the recovery of a substantial quantity of counterfeit merchandise from six different shops. The confiscated items consisted of mobile chargers, adapters, USB cables, mobile covers, back panels, earphones, AirPods, and batteries. Officials mentioned that these products were designed to closely mimic authentic Apple accessories, and were being marketed to consumers as genuine items.

Initial investigations indicated that the suspects were unlawfully using Apple’s logo and designs without permission. The shopkeepers reportedly acquired these counterfeit items at low prices and sold them at inflated rates by falsely presenting them as legitimate branded products.

Representatives from Apple confirmed that all the items seized were indeed counterfeit. They also pointed out that distinguishing such fake products necessitates specialised training, as the replicas are often designed to closely imitate the original products.

Following the operation, police have filed charges against all six individuals under Sections 51 and 63 of the Copyright Act. The seized products have been sealed and dispatched for further analysis as part of the ongoing investigation.

Officials stated that efforts are in progress to identify and capture other individuals connected to this racket. They reiterated that similar operations targeting counterfeit goods will persist throughout the city to combat the sale of fake branded merchandise and safeguard consumer interests.