Vietnam raid nets counterfeit shoes
HANOI - Police in southern Vietnam seized 25 truckloads of
material used to make counterfeit Nike and Adidas sneakers in the first major
operation assisted by Nike officials, officials said Friday.
Tipped off by Nike, police launched a months-long investigation and finally
raided two assembly shops on July 15 in Ho Chi Minh City, police said.
"This is the first large-scale action that we've undertaken with the Vietnamese
authorities," Nike spokesman Chris Helzer said. "We're really happy with their
response and cooperation."
Authorities confiscated 25 truckloads of material as well as defective shoe parts
salvaged from Nike and Adidas factories near Ho Chi Minh City, Helzer said.
Although the factories are under orders to destroy the parts, "leakage" does
occur, he said. "We send it out for recycling. At any point in that process, there
exists the possibility of leakage."
The owner of the illegal assembly shops bought the shoe parts for 10 to 30
cents per pound from scavengers, police said.
The illegal workshops turned out about 40 pairs of shoes a day, which sold for
roughly $4.50 to $8.50 a pair, police said.
The owner of the workshops has not yet been arrested. Authorities are
considering whether to file criminal or civil charges against him.
Vietnam is grappling with a large counterfeiting problem, with fake items ranging
from CDs to clothing being produced in the country or smuggled in from
elsewhere.
There is added urgency to its fight against counterfeiters because a trade pact
signed with the United States last year requires protection of copyrights and
intellectual property.
By Tini Tran - The Associated Press - July 26, 2002.
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