Dubai Customs officials inspect a consignment of goods, searching for counterfeit products. Wam
Dubai Customs officials inspect a consignment of goods, searching for counterfeit products. Wam
Dubai Customs officials inspect a consignment of goods, searching for counterfeit products. Wam
Dubai Customs officials inspect a consignment of goods, searching for counterfeit products. Wam

UAE

Dubai Customs seizes 17,280 counterfeit Vaseline packs worth Dh400,000

Officials work with industry group to clamp down on brand theft

The National

May 19, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai Customs on Wednesday said it seized more than 17,000 packs of counterfeit Vaseline, with a retail value of Dh400,000 ($108,000).

Officers said the shipment of bogus Vaseline petroleum jelly came from an Asian country, but no further details about the seizure were disclosed.

The operation was conducted by the Intelligence Department and Intellectual Property Rights Department of Dubai Customs, with inspectors from the Air Cargo Centre Management.

Dubai Customs seized more than 17,000 packs of bogus Vaseline. Tina Chang / The National
Dubai Customs seized more than 17,000 packs of bogus Vaseline. Tina Chang / The National

"Counterfeit goods cause great harm to society and the economy," said Yousef Mubarak, director of the Intellectual Property Rights Department.

To prevent this, Mr Mubarak said the department works with the Brand Owners' Protection Group – an organisation established by international companies and law firms specialising in intellectual property in the GCC region.

"We co-operate with the Brand Owners' Protection Group to fight these counterfeit goods and protect the rights of trademarks," Mr Mubarak said.

"We engage trademark owners in workshops to educate our inspectors in the latest methods of detecting and distinguishing fake products."

This month Dubai Customs said it had foiled 35 attempts in the past three years to import more than 68 kilograms of "black magic" items at Dubai International Airport.

Dubai Customs seizes black magic items – in pictures

  • In the past three years, Dubai Customs seized more 68kg of items associated with black magic, including talismans, amulets, animal skins, bones and blood.
    In the past three years, Dubai Customs seized more 68kg of items associated with black magic, including talismans, amulets, animal skins, bones and blood.
  • Dubai Customs officers seized animal hair, bones and drawings, pieces of metal, rings and books of magic techniques.
    Dubai Customs officers seized animal hair, bones and drawings, pieces of metal, rings and books of magic techniques.
  • Dubai Customs said its efforts in spreading awareness about carrying these items has helped bring down the number of smuggling attempts.
    Dubai Customs said its efforts in spreading awareness about carrying these items has helped bring down the number of smuggling attempts.
  • Dubai Customs officers confiscated knives and needles associated with sorcery and vials of animal blood and other liquids.
    Dubai Customs officers confiscated knives and needles associated with sorcery and vials of animal blood and other liquids.
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