A COVERT operation by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has uncovered a sophisticated operation involving the storage and sale of suspected counterfeit branded watches, resulting in seizures valued at nearly RM800,000.
The raid, carried out on March 13 under the Trademarks Act 2019, followed nearly a month of intelligence gathering by enforcement officers from Putrajaya, in collaboration with representatives of trademark owners.
Authorities targeted a premises believed to function as both a storage and distribution hub for imitation luxury timepieces.
The ministry, in a statement today, said a total of 790 watches bearing well-known brand names were seized during the operation, along with branded boxes, paper bags and other materials suspected to have been used in the packaging and sale of the goods.
The total value of the confiscated items is estimated at RM790,600.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the operation was managed by a local man in his 30s, who acted as the premises manager and is believed to have overseen stock handling, sales and overall coordination. He has since been detained to assist with investigations.
Authorities said the business was deliberately concealed within a two-storey building.
The ground floor functioned as a watch repair and servicing workshop, while the upper level was used for the storage and sale of counterfeit products, masking the true nature of the operation.
The premises were tightly secured, featuring locked glass doors controlled remotely from inside and monitored by closed-circuit television cameras.
Sales were believed to be conducted selectively, targeting specific customers in an apparent attempt to evade detection by enforcement agencies.
Investigators also found that the counterfeit watches were sourced from overseas suppliers before being distributed locally through this controlled network.
The case is being investigated under the Trademarks Act 2019 for the alleged unauthorised use of registered trademarks.
KPDN stressed that it would not tolerate any involvement in the distribution or sale of counterfeit goods, noting that such activities not only violate the law but also undermine the rights of trademark owners and compromise consumer interests.
“This case is being investigated under the Trademarks Act 2019 [Act 815] for the suspected use of registered trademarks without the authorisation of the rightful owner.”
The ministry urged members of the public with information on counterfeit goods or intellectual property violations to come forward through official reporting channels, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening enforcement and protecting legitimate trade. - March 18, 2026
