Québec City, January 29, 2008 – The officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Québec City Detachment seized over 4,500 counterfeit flat irons – used in hairdressing – as well as fashion acessories passed off as Chanel and Gucci, a small amount of marijuana and $19,490 in cash during a search conducted on January 15, 2008 in Charny, near Québec City. The total value of this seizure is $1,000,000. No arrests have been made to date. The investigation continues.
The RCMP investigators launched their investigation into the alleged counterfeit flat irons in March 2007 after receiving a complaint from the Farouk company, which makes Farouk flat irons. The company discovered that counterfeit flat irons were being sold under the brand name Farouk, after examining an alleged Farouk iron returned by an unsatisfied customer.
The client, who had bought the iron from an ecommerce site, was led to believe that it was a Farouk iron. Other buyers who also believed they had bought Farouk flat irons complained after their iron failed prematurely shortly after delivery.
These counterfeit flat irons were bought on the Internet.
Handbags and iPods seized
The investivation led the Québec City RCMP Detachment officers to a business located in Charny where the search was conducted. In addition to 3,500 Farouk flat irons, the officers recovered some 1,000 counterfeit flat irons under the brand name GHD, a British company which does not sell irons in Canada. They also seized counterfeit Chanel and Gucci handbags and nine iPods.
Theft of intellectual property
Intellectual property crime is mainly related to the illegal counterfeiting and sale of consumer goods or services. This type of crime affects different areas of activities: theft of satellite television signals and counterfeiting of designer clothes, popular household items and even pharmaceuticals.
Financial integrity is one of the priorities of the RCMP. The federal police are committed to redouble their efforts to combat the theft of intellectual property, a serious crime that could have significant consequences on the health and safety of citizens as well as on the Canadian economy. More information on theft of intellectual property can be found on our Internet site.
Anyone who may have been a victim of such crime or who may know an individual or organization intent on deceiving consumers by engaging in this type of crime is invited to contact an investigator at the Québec City RCMP Detachment at 418-648-3733. All information will be kept confidential.
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For information:
Corporal Richard Faucher
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Québec City Detachment
418-648-7522
