A recent police operation in Japan has resulted in the arrest of a 21-year-old seller of fake Pokémon cards. The crackdown on counterfeit Pokémon products is in full effect, and this arrest marks a significant step in combating the issue.
The suspect, Reo Otake, came under the radar of Annaka City police in November 2022 when a customer reported purchasing four Pokémon cards for a hefty sum of 186,100 Yen ($1,252) through an auction website. The police launched an investigation and reached out to Nintendo for assistance. After appraising the cards, Nintendo confirmed that they were indeed counterfeit.
Otake openly admitted to selling fake products, leading to the seizure of approximately 1,000 cards from his home on October 4th. Among the seized items were around 400 Pokémon TCG products in both English and Japanese.
This arrest comes shortly after The Pokémon Company and its partners announced their intention to crack down on replica Pokémon TCG products being sold online in Japan. This proactive approach by the company may have contributed to the successful investigation and subsequent arrest.
In recent years, the popularity and value of Pokémon cards have soared, resulting in an increase in fake cards and product thefts. In April, The Pokémon Company had to address reports of English printing staff stealing hundreds of Secret Rare cards in November 2022, which caused outrage among fans.
With The Pokémon Company taking strong action against counterfeits and pursuing legal measures against sellers, it is likely that more cases like this will emerge in the coming months.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 2022 | Customer reports purchasing counterfeit Pokémon cards |
| November 2022 | The Pokémon Company addresses theft of Secret Rare cards |
| October 4th | Police seize approximately 1,000 counterfeit cards from suspect’s home |
Source: DOTESPORTS
