Customs officers said on Friday that around 120,000 suspected unlicensed products with an estimated value of HK$65 million had been seized in a major crackdown on the cross-border trade in counterfeit goods.

The haul was uncovered during a special operation conducted between October 20 and November 14 that targeted logistics centres handling shipments intended for overseas markets.

The operation, which led to 29 separate cases, intercepted counterfeit goods – including clothing, footwear, electronic gadgets and luxury accessories – that were destined for the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.

Senior Inspector Liu Wai-kit, of the intellectual property transnational investigation division, said the operation was timed to address a surge in counterfeit activity during the "Double 11" global online shopping festival.

He said that criminals exploit the high volume of legitimate e-commerce during this period to conceal their activities.

"Some criminals attempt to exploit the anonymity of online transactions and the complexity of logistics. They mix counterfeit goods with legitimate e-commerce products to evade detection while entering or exiting Hong Kong," Liu said.

The criminals' strategies are tailored to cash in on consumer demand and market conditions, he added.

"This phenomenon is not coincidental. It reflects the unique market ecology during Double 11 and the operational strategies of criminals," Liu said.

"Some consumers, motivated by the promotional atmosphere of Double 11, hope to purchase branded items below market value. This demand has created a broad market for various counterfeit goods."

He further explained that the diverse demographics of Double 11 shoppers compel criminals to offer a broad product range.

"For instance, young people pursue trendy clothing and new electronic products. This phenomenon requires criminals to provide a variety of goods to meet these diverse demands," Liu said.

Criminals are also introducing new models of counterfeit electronic products, such as wireless earbuds, as enticements during the shopping festival.

These smaller items, he said, are deliberately chosen because they are easier to hide and transport compared to larger home appliances, while still possessing a relatively high value.

Additionally, authorities found a significant quantity of counterfeit luxury goods, including branded handbags, wallets and shoes.

Liu indicated this shows criminals are targeting different consumer segments by offering not only general counterfeit goods but also high-end versions.

He said these higher-priced counterfeit items likely generated even greater profit margins, which drives criminal networks to continuously enhance their manufacturing precision to meet the demands of the high-end counterfeit market.

In response to these evolving tactics, customs authorities have enhanced their efforts through intelligence analyses, risk management and collaboration with major e-commerce and logistics platforms.

The public and the logistics industry are urged to remain vigilant and to report any suspected infringement activities to customs.