UAE Raid Bags Largest Stock of Counterfeit HP Cartridges Ever

The Gulf Today reported on a raid conducted by police in the United Arab Emirates following a complaint by HP. Nearly Dh280 million ($76 million/€57 million) worth of cartridges were confiscated and claimed to be the largest amount ever.

The raid involved a warehouse which operated under the cover of carpet production but actually produced counterfeit HP ink cartridges. Other seizures from the raid include equipment for filling the cartridges and forging the trademark and printers and laser systems used to copy the original production code issued by HP.

Two Chinese dealers were detained for the production, distribution and selling of the counterfeit products. The police stated that the men live legally in the UAE and own one company, two warehouses and one villa in Ajman, with a store in Dubai.

At a press conference police officer Brigadier Sheikh Sultan Bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi explained, “We were notified by HP’s lawyer, Abdul Rahman Al Fardan, that there were fake HP products being distributed in the market. The lawyer had purchased some of the products and after comparing them with originals they were found to be lacking.”

He added that after a police investigation, three production sites were discovered in Ajman—two warehouses and a villa and another warehouse in Dubai. The sites were then monitored by police and relevant legal procedures having been accomplished, the warehouses and villa were raided.

Al Nuaimi said, “The punishment for dealing in counterfeit products is one year in prison or a fine of Dh5,000 ($1,300/€1,000) to Dh10,000 ($2,700/€2,000). But in a big case like this we expect the judges can mete out a suitable, bigger punishment.”

HP’s attorney, Mr. Al Fardan, said they believed the business had only been in operation for a few months and therefore product distribution would not have been widespread.