The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, has uncovered a factory allegedly involved in the production and marketing of counterfeit footwear bearing the trademarks of internationally recognised brands, including Gucci, Nike, Timberland, Louis Vuitton and Adidas.
The factory was uncovered at Makun, Shagamu, Ogun State, following an investigation into the activities of Meibalun International Nigeria Limited.
The police identified five suspects in connection with the operation: Ojeleye Esther, Olulenu Adebola, Adewunmi Titilayo and two Chinese nationals, Zhu Hai Chen and Zhou Hai Fen.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the PSFU, DSP Ovie Kenneth Ewhubare, the company allegedly presented itself as a manufacturer of Nigerian-made footwear but was discovered producing and marketing footwear bearing the names and trademarks of international brands without authorisation from their owners.
The statement disclosed that further investigations by the Unit’s Stock Capital Market Fraud Section uncovered questionable financial transactions within the company’s operations.
Investigators reportedly discovered that payments made by customers were diverted into private bank accounts instead of the company’s designated corporate account, prompting further financial tracing to establish the ownership, movement and utilisation of the proceeds.
The police said the suspects admitted that using imitated foreign brand names generated greater sales and patronage than products marketed under Nigerian-made branding.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, CP Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo, said the Unit’s responsibility to combat financial crimes extended beyond conventional banking and investment fraud.
He noted that commercial activities involving economic sabotage, trademark violations and other forms of financial misconduct would also attract the attention of the Unit.
Okpoziakpo assured members of the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally and in accordance with due process, adding that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.
