Fake goods worth Dh1.4 million seized in Abu Dhabi last year

Report reveals that almost 50,000 counterfeit items, including clothes, electronics and tobacco, were found on 140,000 site visits.

ABU DHABI // Fake goods worth about Dh1.4 million were confiscated in a crackdown on counterfeiters last year.

The almost 50,000 seized items included clothing, cosmetics, electronics, vehicle parts, tobacco and food.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development conducted 140,000 field visits last year, registering 184 offences.

“The market value of the forged goods confiscated by the Department of Brands and Commercial Agencies is Dh1,394,978,” said a department statement. It added that if the items had been original and been bought the total worth of the items would have been Dh28,577,184.

The goods confiscated were made up of 8,266 pieces of clothing, shoes and accessories; 5,606 cosmetics and skincare items; 31,427 electronic devices and telephones; 3,101 car parts; 529 tobacco items and food products; and 33 items of intellectual property and publications.

The statistics come from the department’s report last year on the performance of commercial protection.

Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Abu Dhabi Business Centre acting chief executive, praised the work of the department along with semi-government and private organisations.

He urged the public to contact the department if they were aware of any breaches.

According to the report, the Department of Inspection and Monitoring conducted 160,500 inspections last year in relation to business activities. The inspections were carried out following customer and consumer complaints in the capital, Al Ain and the Western Region, with 6,376 breaches of business laws and regulations.

The Department of Commercial Protection (DCP) at the Abu Dhabi Business Centre conducted several inspection campaigns and field visits targeting hawkers, resulting in 232 offences being discovered.

In all, the DCP conducted 18 of the 20 campaigns last year, focusing on corner shops, outlets for electrical tools, perfumes and mobile-phone shops based on complaints by consumers and trademark owners.

The DCP targeted 138 mobile-phone shops for commercial fraud in a joint campaign with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.

Businesses were also invited to participate in workshops and training on the role of commercial protection in relation to consumers and trademarks.

To report consumer-related issues, call 800 555 for Abu Dhabi Government services.

The number replaces the 800 8811 line for consumer protection, which has been cancelled and replaced with a unified number for all government services.