Remember when a mall just north of Toronto was raided and thousands of alleged fake goods were seized?
Eight people are now facing charges related to the police raid of Pacific Mall after yearlong investigation.
The investigation started after York Regional Police started getting a numerous amount of tips about fake goods being sold.
LOL ? My 1st visit to #PacificMall in a about a year & popo raiding it ? That means I won’t be able to get that $300 Sonny 4K TV or $100 Jordanes sneakers #Toronto #Markham pic.twitter.com/IJZD17Ca4S
Shopping centre in Markham, Pacific Mall was busted by thirty police officers yesterday at 12 pm. They seized thousands of counterfeit items, from handbags to iPhone accessories, along with a quantity of cash. The mall is well-known for carrying counterfeit goods, and is one of the largest Asian shopping centres in Canada, with 500 stores and 100 market vendors.
Investigators are currently executing search warrants at various retailers located in Pacific Mall in Markham as part of an investigation into counterfeit goods. pic.twitter.com/DC1bnwsykU
— York Regional Police (@YRP) June 27, 2018
The raid was part of a months-long investigation into the counterfeit merchandise scene at Pacific Mall, after complaints from citizens about fake goods being sold at the mall. Further search warrants will be executed in storage facilities relating to the identified kiosks.
“In some cases, legitimate retailers are duped into unknowingly selling fake products to consumers, while in other cases, the retailer is aware of what is being sold. Those retailers are subject to criminal charges under the Copyright Act, which can be punishable by fines of up to $1 million or imprisonment of up to five years.”
Source: York Regional Police
Featured Image: Instagram/@nbkphotography
Last month, news broke that Pacific Mall in Markham, Ontario is one of the biggest offending retail locations when it comes to the distribution of counterfeit goods in North America.
In a press release from the mall, management said they were “deeply disturbed and disappointed” by the news. The mall’s management stated that they take compliance with the law and regulations that govern the sale of goods seriously.
In the upcoming months, Pacific Mall will be conducting an internal investigation as well as implement strict internal measures to stop imitation goods from being traded or sold.
Here is their action plan for combatting the problem:
- Issuing written advisories and warnings to all store owners and tenants at Pacific Mall on trading or selling imitation goods, and the legal consequences of engaging in such practices
- Requesting store owners and tenants subscribe and comply with a Code of Conduct that imposes various legal and ethical standards relating to the sale of goods
- Partnering with manufacturers to assist in identifying imitation products
- Commissioning a private investigator to conduct internal audits and monitor for imitation goods
- Creating a website www.reportimitationgoods.com for consumer awareness of imitation goods
“As Pacific Mall management monitors this situation closely, it will continue to adopt various practices that will help discourage such behaviour from recurring in the future. Pacific Mall is not only one of North America’s busiest retail centres but it also acts as a unique cultural hub for Toronto and GTA residents. Moreover, Pacific Mall has been a retail attraction for millions of local and international tourists. We hope to reaffirm the public’s confidence in Pacific Mall as a place where consumers and families can find a wide array of cultural opportunities and products at great value. ”
SOURCE: The Pacific Mall
The Toronto Star is reporting that a Toronto-area mall is one of the most notorious sources of pirated and counterfeit goods in the world.
If you live in the Markham area you may have visited Pacific Mall – or as the locals call it PMall. Pacific Mall, a predominantly Chinese-Canadian shopping centre in Markham was recently named the worst offender (of selling counterfeit and fake goods) by the U.S. Office of the Trade Representative in it’s annual review of “notorious markets.”
According to the Toronto Star, The U.S. government says sales of counterfeit goods at Pacific Mall are “sprawling and pervasive” and the vendors that operate at Pacific Mall “operate largely with impunity (as) requests for assistance from local law enforcement have reportedly gone unanswered.”
The report outlines a major list of items that are counterfeited at the mall include cosmetics, sunglasses and perfumes, which can pose a risk to the public health and safety.
Source: Toronto Star
Do You Shop at Pacific Mall?