Domestic accomplices also caught; over 8,000 counterfeit items worth 3.7 billion won seized
The ringleader of a large-scale counterfeit goods distribution network who had fled abroad to evade South Korean authorities has been apprehended through an Interpol red notice — the first time a suspect in a counterfeit goods case has been arrested overseas and repatriated to South Korea through Interpol cooperation.
The Trademark Special Judicial Police under the Intellectual Property Office announced Tuesday that it had detained suspect A, a 32-year-old man, on charges of violating the Trademark Act. A had fled to Vietnam, where he recruited and operated a sales network of domestic and overseas YouTubers to distribute and sell counterfeit goods. Three accomplices, including suspect B, a 42-year-old man, were booked without detention.
Fled abroad to evade domestic crackdown, then ran live broadcasts to sell counterfeits back into South Korea
According to the trademark police investigation, A fled to Vietnam in May last year to escape law enforcement and is suspected of conspiring with domestic and overseas YouTubers to distribute and sell counterfeit goods into South Korea through live broadcasts, continuing the scheme until as recently as this past May.
After fleeing to Vietnam, A initially supplied counterfeit goods to three domestic YouTubers, including suspect B, providing them with sales know-how and using them to distribute and sell the items inside South Korea.
When trademark police raided the offices of B and other accomplices in Gyeonggi Province in July last year, A changed tactics — recruiting more than 10 local YouTubers in Vietnam and forming a new counterfeit sales organization he called a "00 alliance."
Operating as a corporate-style ringleader, A continuously recruited individual sellers — both domestic and overseas YouTubers — by luring them with offers of free accommodation and meals and promises of high earnings. He also conducted guerrilla-style live broadcasts from overseas to sell counterfeit goods and evade law enforcement detection.
Trademark police raided the offices of accomplices who had sold counterfeit goods through live broadcasts, seizing more than 8,000 items — including bags and clothing — with an authentic retail value of 3.7 billion won ($2.76 million).
Interpol red notice and international cooperation lead to arrest of Vietnam-based ringleader
After confirming that A had fled overseas, trademark police launched an international cooperative investigation with Interpol, the prosecution and the Korean National Police Agency, obtaining a domestic arrest warrant and taking steps to secure custody — including invalidating A's passport and issuing an Interpol red notice.
Working with the South Korean Embassy in Vietnam and Vietnamese investigative authorities, police arrested A in Vietnam and repatriated him to South Korea on Aug. 5.
Trademark police are continuing to investigate A over the full circumstances of the counterfeit distribution and sales operation, the process by which he recruited and managed domestic sellers, and any additional accomplices or offenses.
Trademark police vow to pursue suspects who flee abroad and strengthen probe of counterfeit distribution networks
Counterfeit goods crimes have increasingly taken on an organized and international character, with perpetrators using online platforms, social media and live broadcasts to recruit sellers and sourcing counterfeit goods from overseas.
Trademark police said they are intensifying proactive investigations that go beyond targeting individual sellers to pursue the upper tiers of counterfeit supply chains and sales organizations. For suspects who distribute counterfeit goods into South Korea while residing abroad, the agency plans to step up international cooperation with Interpol, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Korean National Police Agency and relevant overseas authorities.
"This case is an example of tracking down and detaining the ringleader of a counterfeit goods operation who had fled overseas through international cooperation," said Jeong Yeon-woo, deputy director of the Intellectual Property Office. "Going forward, we will do our utmost to cut off counterfeit distribution by thoroughly pursuing not only individual sellers but also suppliers and the upper echelons of these organizations."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
