Taiwanese police bust 'video game brothers' ring selling 73,000 fake Pokemon, Sanrio items

Taiwanese authorities have busted a major counterfeit ring led by three brothers, seizing over 73,000 fake video game merchandise items with an estimated market value of NT$34.98 million (approximately $1.1 million USD).

The operation, led by the Criminal Investigation Bureau's Intellectual Property Investigation Division, targeted an electronics store in Xizhi, New Taipei City, which was allegedly the largest operation of its kind. The three brothers, along with employees and an accountant, are accused of importing large quantities of counterfeit Pokemon, Sanrio, and NEW ERA brand products from Chinese platforms like Taobao and Alibaba.

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Last year, we discovered many online auction sites and wholesalers taking advantage of the Switch 2 and new Mario game releases to sell a large volume of counterfeit Pokemon, Sanrio, and other well-known brand video game peripherals online.

Investigators discovered that the group sold these fake items at a discount, around 80% of the original price, attracting many players and collectors. The ringleaders allegedly imported over 25,000 items themselves. The investigation expanded to include other sales points in Taichung and Kaohsiung, leading to the arrest of 12 individuals.

Police are reminding consumers to be cautious when purchasing branded goods, advising them to check for proper packaging, tags, and labels, and to buy from authorized retailers to ensure authenticity and quality.

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The three brothers allegedly imported a large number of counterfeit Pokemon figurines, cartridge boxes, storage boxes, and Sanrio peripherals through platforms such as China's Taobao and Alibaba. The brothers alone imported up to 25,000 items.