A huge quantity of fake and counterfeit products that violated intellectual property rights were seized and cases registered against 147 people under a five-day operation which concluded yesterday after raids on shops, stores and warehouses in Qatar.
The Shaheen operation, ordered by Public Security director general Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi, was carried out by the Ministry of Interior’s Arab and International Police Communication Department in co-operation with Interpol.
It was launched in the wake of the Interpol Regional Programme to Counter Trafficking in Illicit Goods and Intellectual Property Crimes held in Doha last week.
Among the products seized during the raids were 51,000 electrical items, including lights, electric welding ribbons and fuses; 20,000 fake auto spare parts including tyres, brake pads and air filters; 31,000 expired food items on which the validity dates were manipulated in order to sell them again; and 4,000 litres of sterilisation gels which expired two years ago and were originally meant for hospital use.
A large number of counterfeit audio and video products, non-standard building materials, as well as some computers, printers and mobile phones were also seized during the campaign.
Interpol Mena co-ordinator and operations officer Aiham Yasmeenia said the Shaheen operation was first of its kind in the region to rein in counterfeit and illicit goods and products.
A co-ordination office was set up between the Ministry of Interior and Interpol for the operation which was done in co-ordination with the Ministry of Interior, General Authority of Customs and the Consumer Protection Department of the Ministry of Economy and Trade.
