You may not have heard of Pandabuy yet, but it acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers and has been the target of searches by Chinese and British police, who have found millions of counterfeit products.
The investigation resulted in the arrest of 30 detainees and the confiscation of numerous items at the platform's warehouses in Hangzhou, China. It was all due to several complaints from 16 brands that reported copyright infringement. Among the items collected were thousands of fake sneakers, according to The Guardian.
The investigation into the case began in November 2023, bringing together the cooperation of the London Police and companies dedicated to protecting intellectual property. Six months later, the scheme was discovered: it had spread to five Chinese cities, involving more than 2,200 people and warehouses the size of 20 football fields.
The Pandabuy website has not been updated since April 1, and the email automatically sent to buyers says: “Recently, our company has encountered legal issues related to our services. We are fully cooperating with the authorities to ensure that all our activities comply with legal regulations. In the meantime Our team and the authorities do our best to protect your rights and ensure data protection.
“Hardcore alcohol maven. Hipster-friendly analyst. Introvert. Devoted social media advocate.”
