Massive Raid in Divisoria Uncovers Over P15.8B Worth of Fake Luxury Goods

A huge blow was dealt to the counterfeit industry last May 23 when the Bureau of Customs (BOC) launched a major crackdown in Divisoria, Manila. During the raid, officials seized over 1.7 million fake luxury items worth a jaw-dropping P15.8 billion. These included imitation bags, clothes, and accessories that copied big fashion names like Louis Vuitton, Coach, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, and Guess.

The operation was led by the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service - Intellectual Property Rights Division, with support from representatives of Guess. The team inspected several warehouses that had reportedly been monitored for some time due to suspicions of selling and distributing fake designer goods, both online and in physical stores.

Kristian Nico Acosta, legal counsel for Guess Philippines, shared that these locations had been on their radar for quite a while. According to him, the fight against counterfeiters has improved significantly under the current BOC leadership, especially with new technology helping track down suspects faster and streamline the process of going after them legally.

Acosta also reminded consumers that fake goods are not just a legal issue. They come with risks too, such as possible health hazards, poor quality, and an overall negative effect on real businesses trying to compete fairly in the market.

BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio emphasized that the agency isn’t letting up in its campaign against smuggling and intellectual property violations. He said this mission is about more than seizing fake goods. It’s about protecting Filipino consumers, supporting honest entrepreneurs, and maintaining fairness in trade.

The BOC assured that it would keep working closely with brand owners and online platforms to keep fake products off the shelves and out of our homes.

(via Bureau of Customs)