Crime Export ring of counterfeit airbags busted in Gunma

Police suspect the four exported around 8,200 counterfeit airbags and related parts that copied products by eight Japanese automakers, such as Toyota and Nissan, to about forty countries, including the United States. The shipments took place between June 2020 and November 2022 and netted around 280 million yen ($2.1 million), police said, adding that the parts were sold through e-commerce sites.

Click to expand...

The four were arrested for violating the Trademark Act. Israr is accused of possessing three airbags with Toyota emblems for sale at a warehouse in Midori, Gunma Prefecture. According to investigative sources, the counterfeit airbags were sold on online auction sites at prices ranging from 13,000 to 100,000 yen (roughly $100 to $770), about half the cost of the genuine articles. It is believed that businesses, including auto repair shops, bought the counterfeits to install in vehicles that had been involved in accidents or had broken down. Manufacturers and others examining the counterfeit airbags found safety risks, including the products not deploying correctly and parts flying off when they inflated.

Click to expand...