In a major crackdown on counterfeit goods, Chinese authorities have raided the headquarters of Pandabuy, a significant player in the counterfeit fashion market.
The raid involved almost 100 law enforcement officers and led to the arrest of 30 individuals.
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The authorities seized a massive quantity of fake products, reportedly enough to fill 20 football stadiums.
International collaboration
The investigation into Pandabuy was spearheaded by Corsearch, a company specialising in intellectual property protection.
Corsearch began tracking Pandabuy in 2022, noting its rise on social media platforms such as TikTok.
The company provided crucial intelligence that highlighted the scale of Pandabuy’s operations and its role in facilitating the sale of counterfeit fashion items to international buyers.
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By GlobalDataWorking closely with affected brand owners and the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit of the City of London Police, Corsearch’s findings were passed on to Chinese law enforcement.
This collaboration was pivotal in mounting the large-scale raid that targeted the heart of the counterfeit network.
Impact of the raid
The operation has dealt a significant blow to Pandabuy, which operated out of Hangzhou, enabling buyers from Europe and the US to purchase fake fashion items from Chinese sellers.
The raid disrupted its operations, significantly impacting its ability to continue profiting from counterfeit goods.
The scale of the seizure, which included counterfeit stock worth millions of dollars, underscores the vast reach of Pandabuy’s network.
The crackdown is expected to have a lasting impact on the counterfeit market, with further raids and legal actions anticipated.
Future actions
Following the raid, affected brand owners are likely to continue their efforts to combat counterfeit goods.
The success of this operation may inspire similar actions against other counterfeit distributors.
Corsearch and law enforcement agencies will remain vigilant, ensuring ongoing protection of intellectual property rights in the fashion industry.
This case highlights the importance of international cooperation in tackling global counterfeit operations.
The combined efforts of private companies, brand owners, and law enforcement agencies were instrumental in bringing down one of the largest counterfeit networks to date.
