Phoenix consumers warned of counterfeit contact lenses, watches

On March 18th, 2014, detectives from the Phoenix Police Business and Economic Stability Team (BEST) served a series of search warrants at several valley malls in regard to two separate investigations. The first was a store in a local mall selling counterfeit contact lenses and additional items. The company was not licensed to sell contact lenses as a pharmacy. The results of this investigation have been submitted for prosecution.

The second investigation involved 58-year-old Mosarof Hossain, who owns a chain of stores called “Jewelry Unlimited,” and who was warned in 2008 to stop selling counterfeit jewelry and other items at his stores. Hossain continued and became the subject of an investigation in January 2014. During the search warrant service on the store chain counterfeit jewelry, clothing and prescription and novelty contact lenses were recovered. The suspect did not have a pharmacy license and was booked for illegal control of an enterprise (C3F) and Counterfeit Marks (C5F).

The major concern for the Phoenix Police Department is the illegal sale of prescription contact lenses without a license and the sale of novelty contact lenses. These items were seized in both investigations, and they present a serious health and safety hazard to citizens. Phoenix Police are cautioning all who would have a need to purchase contact lenses to please obtain them from a licensed source such as a pharmacy. If the seller is not a licensed distributing optician, then the items you are buying are very likely counterfeit and present a serious danger to your vision health.