Jeddah seizes 3,699 counterfeit branded items in crackdown

JEDDAH — Jeddah Municipality seized 3,699 counterfeit clothing items bearing fake sports club logos and commercial trademarks during two inspection campaigns in the south and central parts of the city.Yasser Bakhsh, director general of monitoring and addressing negative phenomena, said all counterfeit clothing was confiscated and destroyed, while 19 machines and pieces of equipment used for sewing, embroidery, printing and cutting were seized. Violators were referred to the relevant authorities to complete legal procedures.During a joint inspection in the Al Jamiah municipality district, field teams uncovered two rooms inside a residential property being used to sew, embroider and print counterfeit trademarks onto clothing. The operation resulted in the seizure and destruction of 1,029 counterfeit items.Authorities also confiscated eight machines used for embroidery, sewing, printing and cutting. In addition, 850 unbranded clothing items were donated to the Estidamah Food Preservation Association for charitable use.Inspectors later discovered another illegal operation inside an apartment in a mixed residential and commercial building, where 2,670 counterfeit branded clothing items were seized and destroyed in the presence of the relevant authorities.The campaigns were carried out with the support of the Al Jamiah and Al Aziziyah municipalities and in coordination with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Ministry of Commerce, the Civil Defense, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and field enforcement teams.Jeddah Municipality said it will continue inspection campaigns to strengthen compliance, improve regulatory enforcement and curb illegal activities operating from residential properties, while protecting consumers and ensuring a safe environment for residents and visitors.