Beijing police intensify crackdown on counterfeit goods, piracy

Beijing police have cracked over 260 cases involving counterfeit goods, piracy and intellectual property violations since the start of 2025, detaining more than 700 suspects. These efforts underscore their commitment to maintaining market order and protecting the public's legitimate interests, the Beijing Public Security Bureau announced.

With the latest statistics released, the bureau has emphasized the critical importance of safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring fair market competition on Saturday, ahead of World Consumer Rights Day, which falls on March 15 annually.

Over the past year, police in the capital have persistently targeted crimes involving food and drugs, launching a special operation to combat the production and sale of counterfeit alcohol, thereby reinforcing food safety, the bureau noted.

It highlighted a case uncovered late last year, in which police, acting on a tip-off from market regulators, detained two individuals in Tongzhou district for selling counterfeit liquor advertised online and seized 15 boxes of fake alcohol. The pair were found producing imitation drinks at home using basic equipment, marketing it through online pop-up ads, and distributing it nationwide via express delivery, creating a concealed production and sales network.

Moreover, Beijing's flourishing cultural and creative industries have not only brought vibrant products but also a rise in low-quality knockoffs that harm consumers and disrupt market order. In response, the city's police launched a joint campaign with market regulators and prosecutors last year, focusing on sectors such as museums, film and television, and trendy toys.

This initiative aimed to gather insights, collect leads, and assess risks, laying the foundation for a law-based crackdown on the illegal production and sale of counterfeit cultural products, the bureau said.

By the end of 2025, police in Dongcheng, Chaoyang, Fengtai and Shunyi districts conducted a coordinated raid on a criminal group involved in producing and distributing pirated cultural goods, resulting in the arrest of 29 suspects and the seizure of a large quantity of packaging materials, it added.