A 40-year-old Gold Coast man is due to appear before the Southport Magistrates Court today (20 October 2025), accused of selling counterfeit Cartier and other luxury jewellery worth more than $100,000.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege the man passed off fake high-end pieces as genuine items from brands including Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said selling counterfeit goods exploits unsuspecting buyers.
“Selling counterfeit items and products is a deception and fraud that preys upon the goodwill and the back pocket of the customers involved,” Det Supt Telfer said.
“The AFP has a zero-tolerance approach to anyone allegedly committing an offence that seeks to gain an unfair financial advantage via illegal means.”
In December 2023, members of the Gold Coast Joint Organised Crime Task Force (JOCTF) — comprising AFP and Queensland Police — executed a search warrant at a Burleigh Heads jewellery store. The man reportedly granted officers access to a safe containing jewellery, gold bullion and cash.
Police seized the items after a search of the store, safe and business records failed to verify the origin or authenticity of the jewellery. Subsequent AFP investigations revealed that the counterfeit pieces were allegedly presented for sale as genuine luxury items, with a total listed value exceeding $100,000.
However, an AFP valuation later found the true worth of the seized jewellery to be about $28,000.
The man has been charged with 22 counts of possessing or exposing for sale goods with false trademarks, contrary to section 148(1) of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth). The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of $181,500.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
