Minelab expose $1.6m counterfeit metal detector operation in Dubai
Large scale Police raid shuts down 'factory' fabricating counterfeit Minelab gold detection products
DUBAI, UAE, June 25, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Cork based Minelab (http://www.minelab.com), the global leader in gold detection technology and hand-held metal detector devices has announced the latest success in its Stop Counterfeits campaign. In a major Dubai police operation counterfeit Minelab product with a potential market value of $1.6million (AED5.9m) was seized from an apartment complex operating as a makeshift 'factory.'
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The raid revealed that counterfeit parts were assembled and packed at the apartment complex before being sold in the open market as premium Minelab GPX Series gold detectors. Those arrested at the scene and in the aftermath of the raid are now awaiting prosecution by the UAE authorities.
The Genuine Minelab; Genuine Performance; Stop Counterfeits campaign is committed to protecting the interests of customers by safeguarding the authenticity and quality of Minelab products and brands.
Speaking from Australia, Minelab's General Manager Peter Charlesworth said:
“This raid has come about following an intense period of investigation. Minelab, like many leading worldwide brands has had to develop innovative strategies against counterfeit manufacturers based in China that sell direct to our developing markets and through major hubs such as Dubai.
Our customers want Genuine Performance that only Genuine Minelab product can deliver. We are committed to our strategies and this significant result in Dubai reflects our intent. I'd like to commend Dubai CID and our partners for their diligence and professionalism throughout this operation.”
Minelab has introduced a range of new security labels designed for usage on the control boxes and coils of its gold detection products and has just recently introduced a new SMS verification system.
Sheila Kelleher, General Manager of Minelab EMEA explains:
“Customers across the world now have the opportunity to check if a GPX Series detector is Genuine before they buy through our new SMS verification system. By simply texting the product's serial number and the hidden code revealed by the security viewing strip to us, we will verify by text that you are purchasing Genuine Minelab product. This new initiative is accessible and easy to use and so far, we have had excellent participation across the globe”.
A quick guide to the SMS verification system can be viewed on http://www.minelab.com/videos. As the video is available in multiple languages, customers are required to first select their language of choice and then just press play. A FREE 'Verify your Minelab' brochure complete with fold out security viewing strip is also available at all Authorised Minelab Dealer outlets worldwide or by mail from Minelab offices worldwide on request.
Minelab launched its first hand-held gold detector in Australia in 1985 and over the past 28 years has been at the forefront of metal detector design and innovation. In recent years, Minelab's market development work with small scale artisanal gold miners and communities in Africa, Central and Latin America and the Asia Pacific region has helped to transform their traditional mining activities and improve productivity in safety with the use of Minelab gold detectors. As a result of a boom in activity, counterfeit manufacturers are known to target artisanal gold mining communities to exploit their demand for these products.
About Minelab in Africa
Minelab has been active in Africa since 2001 through its authorised dealership network for sales and training currently extends across Botswana, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Minelab is currently developing its outreach into Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Somalia and Togo.
Prospectors across Africa have tasted success with Minelab's GPX 5000 gold detector. Recently a prospector in Mali discovered a 1.2kg gold nugget and in the past few months there were finds in Zimbabwe (1118g), Kenya (550g) and Guinea (276g) using Minelab's gold detecting technology.
To date in 2013 Minelab have supported the following African conferences: International Fair of Khartoum, Sudan (Jan), Mining Indaba, South Africa (Feb), International Trade Expo, Ethiopia (Feb), Liberian Mining and Energy Conference, Liberia (Apr), Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, Zimbabwe (Apr), Uganda Mining and Energy Conference, Uganda (May) and the Cameroon Mining Exhibition, Cameroon (May)
The Minelab team will also be supporting the following African conferences in 2013: Mine Entra, Zimbabwe (Jul),
Africa Down Under, Perth/Australia (Aug), International Trade Expo, Kenya (Oct), Tanzania Mining Energy/Oil & Gas Infrastructure/Indaba (Oct), IPAD, DRC (Oct), Katanga Mining Briefing, DRCongo (Oct), Mali Mining and Petroleum Conference, Mali (Nov), Rwanda Mining, Energy and Infrastructure Indaba, Rwanda (Nov)
Refer to Where to Buy on Minelab.com for information on dealers in your area.
Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of Minelab International Ltd.
Enquiries:
Sheila Kelleher, General Manager EMEA
Phone: 353 21 4232352
Gary Schafer, General Manager Americas
Phone: 1 630 401 8150
Peter Charlesworth, General Manager MINELAB.
Phone: 61 8 8238 0888
http:// www.minelab.com/gold-mining/where-to-buy
Additional Information:
About Minelab's Hand-held Gold Detector Technology
Minelab launched its first hand-held gold detector in the Australian market in 1985. Designed by renowned physicist Bruce Candy, it revolutionized the prospecting world with its ground breaking technology which allowed alluvial nugget gold (from sub-gram size) to be detected in highly mineralized ground. Minelab products lead the field in their ability to 'see through' the ground and remain sensitive to even the smallest deposit of gold at unbelievable depths.
About Minelab's GPX Series Gold Detectors
Minelab's GPX Series are unbeatable gold detectors, capable of finding gold of all sizes – from sub gram nuggets to life changing 'retirement' nuggets and everything in between. It features industry leading MPS, DVT and SETA technology combined with the legendary GPX ability to 'see through' ground mineralization allowing it to achieve excellent depth whilst remaining sensitive to even the smallest nuggets – the GPX Depth Advantage.
About Minelab's Range of Gold Detectors
Minelab's specialist gold detectors are revolutionizing how gold miners search for gold nuggets in some of the world's most difficult soil conditions. From the X-TERRA 705 Gold Pack for beginner prospectors, to the Eureka Gold for the more experienced user, to the ultimate in gold prospecting performance – the GPX 4500, GPX4800 and GPX 5000. Each detector showcases unique functions and benefits but all contain world-first technology and come with the Minelab guarantee of the highest performance in even the toughest gold prospecting conditions.
About Minelab
Minelab (http://www.minelab.com) is an Australian-built, multi-award winning business that has successfully scaled world markets to command global leadership in its key areas of operation. Based in Torrensville, Adelaide South Australia with regional headquarters in Cork, Ireland and Chicago, U.S. the company specialises in advanced electronic technologies. Since its origins in 1985 Minelab has been the world leader in providing metal detecting technologies for consumer, gold mining, humanitarian demining and military needs. Through devotion to research and development and innovative design, Minelab is today a major world manufacturer of hand-held metal detector products. Over the past 28 years, Minelab has introduced more innovative and practical technology than any of its competitors and has taken the metal detecting industry to new levels of excellence.