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A record P41 billion worth of counterfeit goods was confiscated by the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights in 2024, up 52% from P26.99 billion in 2023
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The Bureau of Customs accounted for the largest contribution, with P34.70 billion worth of seized contraband
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BOC’s major operations included a July raid in Binondo, resulting in the seizure of P11 billion worth of fake luxury goods, and a November operation in a Divisoria mall, where authorities confiscated P7 billion worth of counterfeit products
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This was followed by the National Bureau of Investigation at P3.42 billion, the Philippine National Police at P2.83 billion, and the Food and Drug Administration with P30.20 million in fake medicines and health-related products
A record P41 billion worth of counterfeit goods was confiscated by the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) in 2024, up 52% from P26.99 billion in 2023 in a continued crackdown against illicit trade, the Intellectual Property Office said in a statement.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) accounted for the largest share, seizing P34.70 billion worth of items, including luxury goods and apparel.
Among the agency’s biggest operations were a July raid in Binondo, which netted P11 billion worth of fake luxury goods, and a November operation in a Divisoria mall, where authorities seized P7 billion worth of counterfeit products.
The National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police followed, with seizures totaling P3.42 billion and P2.83 billion, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration confiscated P30.20 million worth of counterfeit medicines and health-related products.
Under Section 155 of the Intellectual Property Code, unauthorized use, reproduction, or imitation of registered trademarks without the owner’s consent—particularly if it causes consumer confusion—is deemed trademark infringement.
IPOPHL director general Brigitte da Costa-Villaluz commended the NCIPR’s efforts, emphasizing “the proactive work and strategic raid operations to keep counterfeits from reaching markets and households.”
“Counterfeit products harm the economy as they undermine legitimate businesses and market trust, while also exposing consumers to unsafe products that went under the radar of regulatory standard checks,” she said.
IPOPHL deputy director general Nathaniel Arevalo assured the public that the NCIPR remains committed to eliminating counterfeit operations. “The NCIPR will continue to safeguard our borders from being transit points, our warehouses from being hiding dens and our markets from being thriving hubs for counterfeiting.”
IPOPHL’s Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Office supervising director Christine Pangilinan-Canlapan encouraged consumers to stop buying fake products, reminding the public of “the high cost of risks to what seem like bargain prices.”
