The Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, in co-ordination with the Department of Economic Development (DED), is conducting raids in the Gold Souk for a massive crackdown on counterfeit products. For the first time, "tourist police", a division of Dubai Police, is being drafted into the effort.
Officials believe they will be able to seize a huge quantity of fake products such as watches, bags, pens and a number of branded leather items.
KP Baiju, general manager of Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, said: "We have raised this issue several times in the past. In spite of assurances from various government departments, counterfeit sellers soliciting business in the Gold Souk have not been brought under control." In the past two weeks DED inspectors have conducted at least five inspections and have shut down warehouses where fake goods were stashed.
According to Baiju, the number of fake sellers has increased in the recent months creating a lot of inconvenience for tourists and jewellers in the Gold Souk.
"We suspect this is an unorganised operation and we don't really know how the sellers are networked.
"Often we see sellers who have been nabbed by inspectors or police are back into the market," Baiju said.
The group is also in talks with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing to have the "tourist police" involved.
"While it is the responsibility of the DED to carry out regular checks, close co-ordination between Dubai Police, immigration authorities and 'tourist police' is required.
"Success can only be achieved through consistent measures because we feel that sellers of fake goods have strong financial support to carry out the illegal soliciting," said Baiju.
"We have also had incidents of tourists being mugged at the souk.
"We also know that when tourists come on organised tours, they are taken by guides or operators only to certain shops who sell them gold at a higher rate. The guides then get commission for bringing in buyers. We don't like this and we want the market to be open to the best deal," he said.
The souk has about 350 tonnes of gold jewellery and an equal amount of diamond jewellery, added Baiju.
By Shabina Khan
© Emirates Today 2006
