Jeddah Municipality seizes thousands of counterfeit clothes in Al-Qouzain neighborhood
The Jeddah Municipality announced the execution of a large-scale joint field campaign that resulted in the seizure and confiscation of thousands of counterfeit clothing items and fake labels from unlicensed locations in the Al-Qouzain neighborhood, located in the southern part of the city. This action comes as part of the ongoing efforts undertaken by the municipality, in cooperation with relevant government agencies, to promote compliance with regulations and laws, and to combat illegal commercial activities that harm the national economy and negatively impact consumer safety.
Details of the field operations conducted by Jeddah Municipality teams in Al-Qouzain neighborhood
The Director General of Monitoring and Addressing Negative Phenomena, Professor Yasser bin Siraj Bakhsh, explained that the municipality's field teams were able to identify three illegal sites operating in violation of regulations. He stated that the first site was a fully equipped sewing workshop with rooms dedicated to producing and manufacturing clothing and prayer shawls. Inside, they seized approximately 50,000 ready-to-distribute items, along with 13 embroidery and sewing machines, large quantities of raw fabric, and discovered makeshift rooms used as living quarters for undocumented workers.
Targeting global brands and counterfeiting sports club logos
Regarding the second and third locations, Bakhsh indicated that they were dedicated to manufacturing and counterfeiting famous international brands and well-known sports club kits. The raid resulted in the seizure of 10 thermal and paper printers, 15 sewing machines, and more than 200,000 labels bearing counterfeit international brand names, along with large quantities of T-shirts ready for distribution in local markets.
The fate of the seized items and the legal procedures against the violators
Authorities confirmed that a total of approximately 98,400 pieces of fabric and raw clothing were confiscated and handed over to a specialized charity for distribution to those in need. Meanwhile, 21,602 pieces of counterfeit clothing deemed unfit for use due to intellectual property rights violations were destroyed. All machinery and equipment used in the counterfeiting operations were also confiscated, and the workers apprehended at the sites were referred to the relevant security authorities for further legal action.
Protecting the national economy and promoting intellectual property in the Kingdom
This joint campaign is being conducted with the active participation of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Ministry of Commerce, the Field Enforcement Forces, the Civil Defense, and the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property. This high-level coordination reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's firm commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and combating commercial fraud, an issue of paramount importance to the Kingdom in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Historically, global and local markets have faced ongoing challenges with counterfeit goods, the harm of which extends beyond financial losses for major companies to include threats to consumer safety due to the use of substandard and non-compliant raw materials.
At the local and regional levels, these proactive measures contribute to improving the Kingdom's investment environment and bolstering the confidence of international companies in the Saudi market as a safe environment that protects innovation and brands. These campaigns also directly contribute to enhancing Jeddah's urban landscape by eliminating unlicensed workshops and warehouses in residential neighborhoods, thus ensuring a safe and sustainable urban environment for all.
