China News Service, Shanghai, November 12 (Reporter Li Shuzheng) The used batteries dismantled and eliminated by new energy vehicles were illegally repackaged into lithium batteries for electric bicycles; ordinary cement was packaged with famous brands and sold at a higher price; pirated figures used "pre-sale" and "early bird prices" to attract buyers... Shanghai police reported on the 12th that since the beginning of this year, the city has detected more than 510 criminal cases related to the production and sale of counterfeiting in the field of people's livelihood, and disclosed three types of typical cases.
In the "hand-rubbed battery" case seized by the police, Zhu, Wang and others have purchased scrap new energy vehicle lithium battery cells from other provinces and cities through the Internet since 2024, rented private houses or factories in the suburbs of Shanghai, illegally assembled them, and then sold them to residents of this city through live broadcast platforms.
The picture shows the battery seized by the police. Photo courtesy of Shanghai Public Security Bureau
From June to October this year, the Shanghai police teamed up with relevant departments to destroy 4 illegal modification dens in Pudong, Songjiang, and Qingpu, arresting 10 suspects, and seized more than 30 sets of finished electric bicycle lithium batteries and 1,100 unassembled single lithium battery cells. Preliminary verification has revealed that the cumulative sales amount has exceeded 3 million yuan.
After identification, the lithium battery involved failed multiple safety test indicators and did not comply with the "Safety Technical Specifications for Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Bicycles". Thermal runaway may occur during storage, use, and charging, causing spontaneous combustion and explosion. At present, 10 criminal suspects have been subject to criminal coercive measures in accordance with the law on suspicion of producing and selling counterfeit and inferior products. The police are contacting buyers based on sales trends to persuade them to stop using or replace the batteries.
Ordinary cement is repackaged and sold as a brand-name product at a markup. At the beginning of this year, Minhang police learned relevant clues when visiting companies. On June 10, the police arrested five people including Li Mouyong in the factory involved in the case, and that night they arrested Bi Mouchang, who had provided counterfeit brand cement packaging bags upstream, and seized nearly 50 tons of cement involved in the case. After investigation, the gang has been filling ordinary cement into branded cement packages since 2024 and selling it to some decoration construction teams at a higher price.
At present, five people including Li Mouyong are suspected of selling goods with counterfeit registered trademarks, and Bi Mouchang is suspected of selling illegally manufactured registered trademark signs. They have all been subject to criminal coercive measures in accordance with the law.
In the field of cultural and creative consumption, Fengxian police recently uncovered a case of selling infringing hand-made models, arrested 13 people including Qian, and destroyed two dens selling and hoarding counterfeit goods.
Since May this year, many consumers have reported to the police that the workmanship of a well-known internationally renowned game character figure purchased online. The police contacted the rights holder to verify that the online store had not obtained authorization; after identification, the figures and other products sold were infringing copies.
The group's sales amounted to more than 2 million yuan, and 13 people were subject to criminal coercive measures in accordance with the law on suspicion of selling infringing copies. The picture shows the suspect identifying the pirated figures. Photo courtesy of Shanghai Public Security Bureau
According to the investigation, since 2024, Qian has purchased pirated figures in batches, hired more than 10 employees, and set up departments such as merchandise, customer service, wholesale, and warehousing. Through online stores on multiple e-commerce platforms, he has used gimmicks such as "pre-sale" and "early bird price" to attract players to place orders. As of the incident, the gang's sales amounted to more than 2 million yuan, and 13 people were subject to criminal coercive measures in accordance with the law for allegedly selling infringing copies.
The above cases are all under further investigation. The police reminded that consumers should purchase batteries through formal channels and reject non-standard and assembled products; check brand authorization status when purchasing building materials, consciously boycott pirated cultural and creative products, and promptly report clues of counterfeiting and infringement.
