Minelab exposes US$1.6m counterfeit metal detector operation

Cork-based Minelab, 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 US$1.6million was seized from an apartment complex operating as a makeshift ‘factory’. 

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 GenuineMinelab; 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 a Genuine Minelab product.  This new initiative is accessible and easy to use, and so far we have had excellent participation across the globe.”

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.  

Minelab has been active in Africa since 2001 through its authorised dealership network for sales and training, which 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 (1,118g), Kenya (550g) and Guinea (276g) using Minelab’s gold detecting technology.