Vietnamese national Nguyen sentenced to 1 year prison, 5,000 yuan fine, and deportation for selling counterfeit G7 coffee in Hekou border market. Highlights criminal liability under trademark law, not just fines.
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Source: OT-Team(G), 河口县市场监管局
The People’s Court of Hekou County recently held a public trial and delivered an immediate verdict in a case involving the sale of counterfeit Vietnamese G7 coffee.
The defendant, identified as Nguyen, a Vietnamese national, took advantage of frequent cross-border movement and purchased counterfeit G7 coffee through unofficial channels at low prices before selling it for profit in a border market. The court found that her actions not only infringed on intellectual property rights and harmed consumers’ legitimate interests, but also disrupted market order in the border area and increased the risks of cross-border violations.
Nguyen was convicted of selling goods bearing counterfeit registered trademarks. The court sentenced her to one year in prison, imposed a fine of 5,000 yuan, and ordered her to be deported after completing her sentence.
The case serves as a warning to businesses and individuals engaged in border trade that all commercial activities conducted within China must comply with Chinese law. Intellectual property protection applies regardless of nationality or location. Selling counterfeit goods is not merely a matter of paying a fine; it can result in criminal liability.
According to the court, Nguyen had believed that “selling cheap coffee was not a serious issue.” However, the decision resulted in the loss of one year of personal freedom, financial penalties, and eventual deportation — a costly consequence of violating the law.
The authorities also reminded consumers to purchase products through legitimate channels and avoid being misled by unusually low prices. Border trade is not a “law-free zone,” and lawful business practices remain the only sustainable path for long-term operations.
Under Article 214 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, anyone who knowingly sells goods bearing counterfeit registered trademarks, when the illegal proceeds are relatively large or other serious circumstances exist, may face imprisonment of up to three years and a fine or a fine alone. In cases involving particularly large illegal proceeds or other especially serious circumstances, offenders may face imprisonment of between three and ten years, along with a fine.
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