Fake goods seized
Columbia Sportswear Company has announced that authorities in Thailand have confiscated more than 4,700 counterfeit Columbia products from four retail outlets and two related warehouses.
Starting with a tip from the company's Thai distributor, the raids followed several weeks of surveillance by private investigators hired by Columbia with cooperation from several local and regional Thai law enforcement agencies. One of the alleged leaders of the counterfeiting and smuggling operation was located and arrested near the Cambodian border and a warrant has been issued for the arrest of the owner of a chain of retail stores and warehouses that were used to distribute and market the counterfeit goods.
Columbia CEO and president, Tim Boyle, said: "We take our brand and image very seriously and intend to take aggressive action to stop the unauthorised use of our name, designs and trademarks.
“We believe it's a matter of principle and integrity to protect loyal Columbia customers from impostors," he added.
