MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile, gateway for illegal phony name brands products mainly from China

Fake Barbie dolls, Channel sunglasses, Louis Vuittron purses are among the products introduced

Phony name brand products produced in China are increasingly a headache for Chile’s customs and police authorities.

More than 22 million US dollars in fake Barbie Dolls, Chanel sunglasses and Louis Vuitton purses (among many other name brand rip-offs) have been confiscated this year, authorities reported last week. Chilean ports, it seems, serve as primary access points for cargo ships carrying contraband en route to Argentina, Paraguay Bolivia, and, of course, Chile.

The illegal shipments are mostly organized by Chinese (80%), Korean and Taiwanese operators, police officials say.

“We detected a significant quantity of clothes, cigarettes and electronics are destined for Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay”, said Investigations Police chief Antonio Milesi. “We’re becoming a conduit, like what narco-traffickers try to do.”

“These shipments are difficult to detect and very profitable for importers,” added police spokesman Patricio Bascuñan. “The products are appealing because they can be 50 to 60% cheaper [than their authentic counterparts].”

The traffickers of these illegal goods have built sophisticated networks comparable to those used in international narco-trafficking operations. Because regulation of shipments arriving from Asia into Chilean ports has increased, the traffickers are forced to create new ways to get products into the South American market.

Customs Service secretary general Fabian Villarroel said recent investigations resulted in the seizure of some 2.4 million illegal items, especially purses, sunglasses, watches, footwear and clothing. The most popular counterfeit brand is haute-couture mega label Chanel, followed by Princess (Disney), Louis Vuitton, Barbie (Mattel), and Emporio Armani.

By Kamille Go - Santiago Times