Police in Blankenberge have seized over 700 counterfeit goods during the Harbour Festival, held over the long weekend in this coastal town.
“They are mainly goods sold on cheap Chinese websites,” Police spokesperson, Jan Maertens, said.
During the festival, a flea market takes place as part of the festivities.
A total of 707 counterfeit items, including stuffed animals, keychains, caps, ballpoint pens, and sunglasses, were seized.
Offenders usually follow a similar pattern: they purchase goods from Chinese websites and resell them at higher prices at the flea market. People often mistakenly believe it is legal since the goods have cleared customs checks. However, it is the seller’s responsibility to ensure that items are sold legally.
“During a small-scale inspection, two of the four examined stalls were found to be non-compliant with regulations,” Maertens said.
Police have stated that further checks will be conducted in the future. The Harbour Festival will continue until Sunday.
