MANILA, Philippines – Beijing police have shut down an operation that produced approximately 41,000 fake iPhones worth around $19 million (120 million yuan), according to a social media post by the public security bureau in Beijing on Sunday, July 26.

The Wall Steet Journal said the Beijing company, which was not named, drew attention when the fake handsets were seized in the US in May. According to the police report, 9 suspects have been taken into custody.

The police added that a 43-year-old male suspect surnamed Yu and his 40-year-old wife surnamed Xie bought used mobile mainboards from foreign countries and fake parts from Shenzen, then hired workers to assemble the products in Beijing, before selling them overseas.

The operation, police said, had 6 production lines hidden in a bonded industrial zone posing as an electronic gadget maintenance company.

It is not known where the phones were headed nor how many fake phones  reached their destination. – Rappler.com