Shanghai customs recently seized 1,000 soccer balls marked with "World Cup 2010" set for export to the Mauritius by a Guangdong-based company.

The exporter mixed the soccer balls with other sports items like skipping ropes in a container in an effort to slip through customs.

Customs officials decided to open the container for investigation after judging it had a high risk of carrying counterfeit materials.

The Federation Internationale de Football Association confirmed the soccer balls infringed on the organization's exclusive use of the World Cup trademark.

It was the second infringement that Shanghai customs investigated related to the world's month-long soccer gala in South Africa.

Last October, a shipment of 1,000 soccer balls with trademark "South Africa 2010" destined for Norway was found to be unauthorized use of the trademark.

(Source: China Daily)