Customs officers have arrested three men and 23 women, seizing 4,500 counterfeit leather items worth $5 million.

Officers raided 17 chain shops yesterday after receiving a trademark owner's complaint.

The sellers adopted the trademark on their products without the consent of the copyright owner. Someone fraudulently claimed the goods were made in Britain when selling them to customers, however, the products were not produced in Europe.

Officers seized 4,000 fake leather goods worth $4.45 million at an office of one of the chain shops in Mong Kok and its 15 outlets in Mong Kok, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, North Point, Yau Ma Tei and Jordan. Two men and 21 women, aged 19 to 45, including a director, a manager and staff were arrested.

Officers also searched the office of another company in Mong Kok and its retail stores nearby and in North Point. Five-hundred bogus leather goods worth $550,000 were seized and a male manager and two women staff, aged 22 to 41, were arrested.