Hong Kong Customs officers have seized 31,980 bottles of suspected fake bird's nests, retailed at about 2.1 million HK dollars (269,230 US dollars) in a two-day (Oct. 20-21) raid against 12 retail outlets and three premises.

They also arrested four women and a man, aged between 31 and 46,including the supplier and distributors of the seizure.

This is the first time that Customs officers have come across suspected fake bottled bird's nests.

Before mounting the operation, Customs officers from the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau have undergone extensive investigations based on information given by the Consumer Council.

Rounding up the operation at a press conference Friday, Head ofthe Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau Tam Yiu-keung said Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department is fully committed to cracking down on counterfeit and fake goods activities.

Source: Xinhua