In December 2023, the Gold Coast Joint Organised Crime Task Force executed a search warrant at a Burleigh Heads jewellery store, where an individual provided access to a safe containing jewellery, gold bullion, and cash.
Investigators seized the jewellery after a search of the store, the safe, and business records failed to determine its origins or legitimacy. Investigations by the Australian Federal Police have since determined that many counterfeit jewellery pieces were allegedly presented for sale as genuine Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels pieces.
A 40-year-old man has been charged with 22 counts of possessing or exposing for sale goods with false trademarks, contrary to the Trade Marks Act (Cth) 1995, which carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and/or a $181,500 fine.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said attempts to sell counterfeit luxury items took advantage of customers.
“Selling counterfeit items and products is a deception and fraud that preys upon the goodwill and the back pocket of the customers involved,’ Telfer said.
“The AFP has a zero-tolerance approach to anyone allegedly committing an offence that seeks to gain an unfair financial advantage via illegal means.”
The alleged counterfeit jewellery items were listed for sale in the store, with a total sale value exceeding $100,000. An evaluation found the jewellery's actual value to be about $28,000.
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