Counterfeit Goods Destroyed by C-TOC

Counterfeit goods valued at $1.2 billion were destroyed by the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Branch (C-TOC) during its annual ‘Destruction Day’ exercise on April 25.

The goods included boxes of rum, shoes, handbags, toothpaste and baby formula.

This was disclosed by Head of C-TOC, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Fitz Bailey, during a press briefing held recently at 8-10 Ocean Boulevard in Kingston.

Mr. Bailey said one of C-TOC’s mandates is to ensure that intellectual property rights throughout Jamaica are protected.

“Those who carry out the act of counterfeiting and piracy are doing so on an industrial scale and acting like professionals. This is a worrying development that requires an immediate concerted, comprehensive joint response from stakeholders and authorities at the national and international levels,” he said.

ACP Bailey argued that the legal framework will have to be put in place to take away the profits generated by counterfeiters and pirates, and to compensate for the damage done to legitimate rights holders.

“In short, the legal framework has to be strengthened to reflect modern times,” he added.

He further noted that C-TOC will be rolling out a campaign in short order to sensitise the public about the dangers of counterfeit goods.