Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, today praised the work of Customs and Border Protection officers in Fremantle who stopped more than 10,000 counterfeit Tiffany and Company items from reaching the local market and being sold to unsuspecting consumers.

It is vital that we stop these goods at the border as they threaten the profitability and reputation of legitimate businesses and are potentially a risk to consumer safety,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Tiffany and Company is a prestigious company and Customs and Border Protection’s work in stopping these counterfeit goods ensures there is no negative impact on the famous Tiffany brand,” Mr O’Connor said.

The goods were originally referred to Customs and Border Protection on August 3 by the air freight forwarder who thought the consignment, made up of eight boxes, was suspiciously labelled. A second shipment of one box was also stopped and examined by Customs and Border Protection Compliance Assurance officers on 5 August 2009.

Both consignments were confirmed by Compliance Assurance officers as containing thousands of counterfeit Tiffany and Company products along with associated packaging and care instructions.

Mr O’Connor said these types of counterfeit rackets are highly professional.

“The attention to detail in the packaging makes it especially difficult for consumers to spot a fake,” Mr O’Connor said.

The goods were subsequently seized and Tiffany and Company, the licensed objector, was notified.

In total 10,778 counterfeit items (jewellery and packaging) were seized, including 476 necklaces, 597 bracelets and 177 rings.

Further investigations by Compliance Assurance officers have identified the supplier of the goods and a website used by the importers to sell the counterfeit goods on a commercial basis.

Mr O’Connor said this case is a excellent example of how Customs works with industry to prevent intellectual property crimes and to protect legitimate trade and consumers.

“Such referrals from industry groups play a vital role in the detection of counterfeit and illegal goods.”

Glen Schlehuber, Managing Director, Tiffany and Company Australia said the actions of Customs and Border Protection officers prevented thousands of goods entering the country.

“As a company that takes great care in protecting its trademark rights, we applaud the work of Customs and Border Protection in this seizure,” Mr Schlehuber said.

“This seizure sends a strong message that those who traffic in counterfeit merchandise will not get away with it.

“We will continue to work closely with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service in the fight to stamp out the problem of counterfeit goods, protecting the public as well as our famous brand and trade mark,” Mr Schlehuber said.

Customs and Border Protection works closely with trade mark and copyright owners to protect intellectual property. Many rights owners have chosen to protect their intellectual property by lodging documents requesting that Customs and Border Protection seize infringing goods at the border.