A strict inspection campaign in Jeddah uncovers a counterfeit clothing factory
As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance market oversight and combat illicit commercial activities, the Jeddah Municipality, in cooperation with other government agencies, successfully raided an illegal site south of the city that had been transformed into a fully equipped factory for manufacturing and storing counterfeit sportswear. The joint field operation resulted in the confiscation of over 5,255 counterfeit clothing items and logos destined for local markets.
Background of the campaign and the Kingdom's efforts in protecting intellectual property
This operation is part of the broader efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to combat commercial fraud and protect intellectual property rights, a cornerstone of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 , which aims to create a safe and attractive investment environment. The phenomenon of trademark counterfeiting not only harms the original trademark owners but also negatively impacts the national economy through unfair competition and deceives consumers with inferior products. Entities such as the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and the Ministry of Commerce work in close coordination to enforce regulations and laws that protect markets from these harmful practices.
Details of the raid and the seizures
Field teams discovered that the illegal site was not merely a warehouse, but a fully equipped factory with state-of-the-art technology used in counterfeiting operations. Inside, they found advanced laser and thermal printing machines, as well as computers used to design and print high-resolution logos of famous international sports clubs. The seized items were inventoried as follows:
- 600 pieces of ready-made sportswear bearing counterfeit logos of international clubs.
- 2,475 stickers and logos ready to be stuck on clothes.
- 2,180 pieces of raw, unidentified clothing were intended for counterfeiting.
Yasser Bakhsh, the general manager of operations for monitoring negative phenomena, explained that the site also included facilities for workers’ accommodation, which confirms the nature of the integrated activity aimed at achieving illicit profits.
Economic importance and expected impact of the operation
This operation is of great importance both locally and internationally. Locally, it helps protect consumers from counterfeit products and supports law-abiding merchants. Internationally, these measures enhance the Kingdom's reputation as a country that respects and enforces intellectual property laws, encouraging global brands to invest confidently in the Saudi market. Combating these dens of iniquity also disrupts organized crime networks that exploit this trade to finance their illegal activities.
Measures taken and integration of government efforts
The campaign was conducted through extensive coordination involving the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, reflecting the integrated government efforts to combat commercial fraud. In accordance with established procedures, the raw materials were donated to charitable organizations, while the remaining counterfeit goods were referred to the inventory committee at the Southern Sub-Municipality for complete destruction. The Jeddah Municipality affirmed its commitment to continuing its rigorous inspection campaigns and will not hesitate to close any establishment engaged in unlicensed activities that harm the national economy and public safety.
