100,000 Fake Face Masks Seized In Record Haul

The Customs and Excise Department has made its largest seizure of fake surgical masks so far, confiscating 100,000 masks worth HK$3 million and arresting one man.

Packed in boxes of 20, the counterfeit N95 masks were seized from a Yuen Long warehouse on Wednesday.

Customs officers said in a press conference on Friday that N95 is more profitable than the typical surgical mask.

"These masks are for the use of medical staff... and the price of each mask is 25 times that of normal surgical masks," said Tse Kwok-keung, head of the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau.

As part of their operation, customs officers also raided a trading company in San Po Kong on Wednesday and arrested its 71-year-old owner.

Authorities believe the counterfeit items are aimed for overseas sale, not locally, given the severity of the pandemic situation worldwide.

They said the fake masks were not produced in Hong Kong, and they're still investigating where they came from.

Tse added that it's difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake masks because they are similar in colour and size. But he said they have different thickness and words printed on the counterfeit items are blurry.

The Customs and Excise Department said since late January, 80 people have been arrested for allegedly selling face masks and other antiseptic products that are not up to standard and violating the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.