The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, has uncovered a factory allegedly producing counterfeit footwear bearing the trademarks of global brands, including Gucci, Nike, Adidas, Timberland and Louis Vuitton, in Ogun State.
The factory, operated by Meibalun International Nigeria Limited, was discovered at Makun, Sagamu, following an investigation into the company’s manufacturing and marketing activities.
The police said five suspects, including two Chinese nationals, were linked to the alleged counterfeiting operation.
The suspects were identified as Ojeleye Esther, Olulenu Adebola, Adewunmi Titilayo, Zhu Hai Chen and Zhou Hai Fen.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Special Fraud Unit’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ovie Kenneth Ewhubare, the company allegedly presented itself as a manufacturer of Nigerian-made footwear but was found producing and marketing shoes bearing the names and trademarks of international brands without authorisation from their owners.
The police said the suspects admitted during interrogation that using imitated foreign brand names generated higher sales and attracted more customers than products marketed under Nigerian-made branding.
The investigation also uncovered alleged questionable financial transactions involving the company, with payments from customers reportedly diverted into private bank accounts instead of the company’s designated corporate account.
The Stock Capital Market Fraud Section of the PSFU subsequently commenced financial tracing to establish the ownership, movement and utilisation of the proceeds from the alleged illegal activities.
The Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo, said the investigation reflected the unit’s commitment to tackling financial crimes beyond conventional banking and investment fraud.
He warned that the unit would not limit its operations to traditional financial crimes while other commercial activities capable of undermining Nigeria’s business environment, facilitating economic sabotage and violating intellectual property rights continued unchecked.
Okpoziakpo assured members of the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally and in accordance with due process, adding that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.
