The Police Special Fraud Unit, PSFU, Lagos, has uncovered a counterfeit footwear factory in Sagamu, Ogun, and detained five suspects, including two Chinese nationals, over their alleged involvement in the operation run by Meibalun International Nigeria Ltd.
The PSFU spokesperson, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday.
Ewhubare said that the discovery followed an investigation into the company’s activities.
“The company presented itself as a manufacturer of Nigerian-made footwear but was allegedly producing and marketing shoes bearing the names and trademarks of international brands without authorisation from their respective owners.
“The affected brands include Gucci, Nike, Timberland, Louis Vuitton and Adidas, among others,” he said.
According to him, further investigation by the unit’s Stock Capital Market Fraud Section uncovered questionable financial transactions linked to the company’s operations.
He said payments made by customers were allegedly diverted into private bank accounts instead of the company’s designated corporate account.
The spokesperson said the discovery prompted investigators to trace the ownership, movement and utilisation of the proceeds of the alleged criminal activities.
The spokesperson added that the suspects admitted during interrogation that using imitation foreign brand names generated higher sales and patronage than marketing the products under Nigerian-made branding.
Ewhubare said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Eloho Okpoziakpo, reaffirmed that the unit’s mandate to combat financial crimes extended beyond conventional banking and investment fraud.
Okpoziakpo said the unit would also tackle offences undermining the business environment, economic stability and intellectual property rights beyond conventional financial crimes.
“The CP also assured members of the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally and in accordance with due process, ” the spokesperson said.
According to Ewhubare, all persons found culpable will be brought to justice.
