Hobart woman busted with fake designer bags at Perth airport

A Tasmanian woman allegedly caught bringing in fake designer fashion items told customs officers they were “for family and friends”.

Louis Vuitton bag. Pic: supplied

A HOBART woman caught with 129 fake designer bags by Australian Border Force officers on her way back from Bali has been forced to surrender her haul.

The ABF has since warned consumers to be vigilant when buying designer bags and purses on online community selling websites.

ABF officer claim they intercepted the consignment of counterfeit items at Perth International Airport.

“Officers located 129 counterfeit bags, purses and backpacks – mostly Mimco and Louis Vuitton copies – during a full baggage examination at airport on March 6,” ABF said.

“The woman, aged 31 who lives in Hobart, told officers the bags, backpacks and purses were ‘for family and friends’, but the ABF suspects she was planning to sell them online.”

Registered trademarks in Australia protect Mimco and Louis Vuitton brands.

The ABF detained the items and issued a seizure notice to the woman on March 13.

The items were subsequently forfeited and will now be disposed of.

The ABF said handbags were among the most commonly seized counterfeit and pirated goods along with mobile phones and accessories, car parts and accessories, clothing, shoes, DVDs, watches and toys.

ABF Assistant Secretary for Customs and Trade Policy, Matthew Duckworth, said buyers of counterfeit or pirated goods were paying a premium for inferior products.

“Consumers can do their part to help combat counterfeiting by not purchasing from unofficial sites or sources and by taking care not to bring pirated goods back into Australia when returning from overseas. Think about what you are really buying,” Mr Duckworth said.

“Counterfeit and pirated goods not only rob legitimate businesses of income, they threaten the livelihoods of Australian workers, and, in some cases, pose real health and safety risks.

“As Australia’s customs service, the ABF has made trade enforcement a leading operational priority.

“The ABF takes seriously the importation of counterfeit and pirated goods. Our customs compliance officers are dedicated to identifying breaches of intellectual property rights at the border.”

Anyone with information about the importation of counterfeit or pirated goods is urged to contact Border Watch at australia.gov.au/borderwatch.

Information can be provided anonymously.