Fake Rolex
A counterfeit watch is many times cheaper than an authentic brand-name one, but if you get caught, the costs can be quite high. The Dutch are ordering more and more products via the internet and apps that sell things extremely cheaply. The biggest flow of counterfeit goods enters the Netherlands through shipping containers.
Ultimately, this ‘Rolex’ was not collected by the purchaser. He tried to avoid the fine for this counterfeit product by claiming the watch was genuine. When he was then faced with the import duty (at the time 12% of the catalogue value of about 12,500 euros), he chose to forgo the watch and pay the fine instead.
Law
Sometimes trademark infringement only causes economic damage, but fake products can also result in damage to health and safety, for example, in the case of counterfeit medicines, helmets or car parts.
The Economic Offences Act protects intellectual property. A product may not be counterfeited just like that. To this end, Customs works with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and companies that are the victims of product counterfeiting.
Customs also works with other parties: the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport to check medicines; the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature to monitor food quality; and the Police, Royal Dutch Marechaussee and Aliens Police in enforcing the Weapons and Ammunition Act, investigating drug trafficking and fighting organised crime.