Dwayne Mcleod, Staff Reporter

The local police are warning that they will be cracking down on higglers who sell items of clothing with fake brands.

Although illegal, many higglers across the island have been selling clothes and shoes resembling, or believed to be top-brand names, but which are imitations.

Head of the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID), Superintendent Fitz Bailey, told THE STAR that the police are aware of the situation and are working on it.

"It is a crime and wherever the crime is we will go there and fix it. We have had several cases of persons breaching the Trademark Act and we are doing some work around that," Superintendent Bailey said.

Recently, a businesswoman was caught selling fake Nike sneakers to shoppers in downtown Kingston.

The accused, Princess Smith, 46, pleaded guilty to 37 counts of breaching the Trademark Act when she appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court and will be sentenced on Wednesday.

Investigators from OCID charged Smith in December last year after a raid at the Metro Arcade on Luke Lane, downtown Kingston.

More than 300 pairs of counterfeit Nike sneakers were reportedly seized during the operation.

Some higglers with whom THE STAR spoke admitted to selling 'fraud brands', but claim they only do so to offer affordable goods to customers. They say the fakes are hard to distinguish from the authentic items.

"Hear how it go now, a long time we a vendor a sell fraud brand cause yuh cyaa tell dem different from di one weh deh a farin a sell fi a bag a money.... People who have sense bout dem ting yah know seh if we fi buy di real ting and come a yard come sell it poor people cyaa afford it," Nevillea higgler who sells sneakers in downtown Kingston told THE STAR.

In explaining, he continued, "A wah, poor people nuffi look good to? Look pon it eno, a wicked Nike sneakers a foreign a fi all one bills (US$100), so when we come back a yard wi haffi sell it fi mek back a profit, so a betta wi buy di knock-off one weh cost less so we can price it a way people can afford it and we eat a food same way."

Another higgler Cinderellafrom Montego Bay made a similar point.

"Dem haffi go lock me up and dash weh di key cause me nah stop sell my ting dem. Is not like seh nuttin wrong wid di clothes and shoes dem is just seh dem mek inna mass production so dem cheaper ... Mek me tell yu straight up wi cyaa buy real Gucci fi sell cause poor people cyaa afford it," she explained.

According to the higglers, 'fraud brand' clothes and shoes are easily accessible in foreign countries where they do their shopping.

"Fi get di knock-off thing dem yu affi go weh dem mek. Some a we go Panama, some go United States an some go all a Japan go shop so anyweh dem go a deh so dem buy di goods," Neville said.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Bailey revealed that OCID is currently working on at least three major cases involving the sale of fake branded items, and will be tackling the issue on an islandwide scale.

Names changed on request.