THE trade of fake gold and other precious metals is an activity known to have been in existence for some time.
While expressing concerns over the recent incident involving the sale of fake gold buddha statues and gold nuggets to a Lautoka businessman last week, Fiji Retailers Association president Himmat Lodhia said they did not know how to stop such activities.
"We are glad the matter is highlighted by the media because it would help tone down these activities. But there is a possibility this could go untraced," he said.
He said Fiji had its share of con artists who were involved in such trades and got away quickly without any chance of discovery.
"We are concerned about these things and we don't know how to stop it. These people are not licensed to sell and the victims in this case should have known it was an illegitimate transaction so at the end of the day, they have themselves to blame," he said.
Police spokesman west Wame Bautolu said one of the three suspects who sold the fake gold statues and nuggets was known to police.
The suspects sold five statues and 95 gold nuggets worth $63,115 to a Chinese businessman. A jeweller later tested and discovered the items were made of brass. Mr Bautolu said one statue weighed 500 grams.
Police are asking the public for information to help their investigations.