Indian Police Seize Counterfeit Bearings

Police in India's Kolkata area staged a series of raids on independent bearing resellers, targeting and seizing counterfeit SKF branded bearings and packaging materials. In three raids, accompanied by a representative from SKF Bearings India Ltd., Enforcement Branch police seized counterfeit bearings which would have been worth close to 35 million rupees (USD $775,000) wholesale, and 50 million rupees ($1.1 million) retail, if they had been true SKF bearings. The Kolkata police acted on tips from competitor distributors, and direct complaints filed by SKF Bearings India. Not only did police seize bearings, but also packaging material. The counterfeit packaging material seized was key because it attempts to replicate SKF retail presentation, including the anti-counterfeiting measures now part of SKF's packaging across India. Three men were reportedly arrested in the raids, each implicating the others and leading to several subsequent raids. None of the raids, seizures or arrests involved the actual manufacturers of the counterfeit bearings or packaging, however. Police in India have previously stated they believe the vast majority of counterfeit bearings in that country have been smuggled from China. With no way to stop the manufacturing at its source, enforcement efforts have instead focused on eliminating demand for counterfeit bearings by repeatedly staging raids, seizures, and arrests.