Authorities in Seoul have dismantled a major counterfeit operation involving luxury Jaeger-LeCoultre watches, arresting two key distributors and charging eight others with related offenses.
Raid Targets Import and Domestic Assembly
Gwangjin Police Station conducted raids on suspected counterfeit distribution activities. Investigators detained two primary operators on arrest warrants and indicted eight additional individuals without detention, including sellers of fake luxury watch labels, a packaging company executive, and delivery drivers.
The group imported Jaeger-LeCoultre watch parts from overseas and assembled them into complete watches domestically, marketing them as authentic products for sale within South Korea.
Scale of the Counterfeit Network
The two main suspects collaborated with international brokers to import large quantities of parts on a massive scale. They then constructed full watches and distributed them through domestic channels as genuine items.
Over five years, the operation circulated counterfeit luxury watches, clothing, and sneakers valued at 3.5 billion won based on genuine retail prices.
Seizures and Investigation Findings
Raids on two primary offices yielded 412 clothing items, 258 watches, 50 pairs of sneakers, and other goods with a genuine market value exceeding 7.7 billion won.
Officials describe the scheme as a sophisticated organized crime targeting enthusiasts of high-end Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces. They emphasize the significant financial harm inflicted on consumers through these illicit transactions.
