Fake Apple iPhones factory raided in China

A factory in China has been raided which allegedly made up to 41,000 fake Apple iPhones. Nine arrests have been made.

The operation reportedly involved hundreds of workers who repackaged second hand smartphone parts as new iPhones for export, worth 120m Yuan ($19m).

The factory, initially discovered in May, was revealed on social media by Beijing’s public security bureau on Sunday.

According to Beijing authorities, it was led by a husband and wife team, on the northern outskirts of the Chinese capital. They said they had been alerted to the factory by US authorities which had seized some of the fake phones.

The reports come amid an official Chinese crackdown on counterfeit goods, with authorities pushing firms to trademark their goods. China has also agreed to work with the US authorities to try to stem the large quantities of fake goods being traded between the two countries.

The discovery of the factory comes four years after fake Apple stores were found in Kunming city, China.

Discovered by blogger BirdAbroad, the fakes were so convincing she said many of the staff themselves were convinced that they were employed by the US electronics firm.