Hong Kong customs swoop ahead of the World Cup, seizing $20M in fake goods
Authorities said nearly 80% of the counterfeit goods were bound for the Americas and included jerseys, watches, speakers and handbags.
- On Thursday, June 11, 2026, Hong Kong customs authorities announced the seizure of 230,000 counterfeit items worth $20 million in an operation code-named "Clean Sheet," targeting alleged smuggling and online sales from May 26 to Wednesday.
- Nearly 80% of the seized goods, including about 30,000 jerseys, were destined for the Americas, where the United States, Mexico, and Canada are jointly hosting the Fifa World Cup this year.
- Authorities arrested six people during the operation, with senior inspector Wayne Chung Tsz-wai noting some fake jerseys were so finely made they are difficult to distinguish from authentic team shirts for ordinary consumers.
- Beyond soccer merchandise, officials also seized footwear, handbags, and Rolex watches, while Chung warned that anyone convicted of selling counterfeit goods faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of about $64,000.
- Investigators are still tracing the origins of the seized products, though officials anticipate significant demand for merchandise from fans throughout the World Cup, the largest tournament in history.
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Just a few hours before the World Cup began, Hong Kong authorities announced Thursday the seizure of 230,000 allegedly falsified items valued at about $20 million, including T-shirts linked to the expected football tournament.
Hong Kong authorities today announced the arrest of six people in an operation against the trafficking of counterfeit derivatives linked to the 2026 World Cup, with nearly $20 million of illegal goods. According to customs, about 80 percent of the seized goods were destined for North America, where the competition begins today. Agents intercepted nearly 230 thousand items, including 30,000 shirts suspected of being forged, worth 156 million Hong…
Hong Kong authorities arrested six people for trafficking in counterfeit derivatives linked to the 2026 World Cup.
$20 million worth of fake World Cup jerseys seized ahead of tournament
Hong Kong customs officials have intercepted 230,000 suspected counterfeit products worth nearly $20 million, including thousands of fake football jerseys destined for World Cup fans. Authorities say demand for tournament merchandise is fuelling a booming global counterfeit trade.
With kickoff hours away, Hong Kong customs officials seize $20 million in World Cup fake goods
All were destined for overseas markets, with nearly 80% set to be shipped to the Americas, where the World Cup is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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