China may have a reputation for counterfeit electronic goods, but the times, they are a-changing. Police in Shanghai have arrested five people connected with making and selling fake iPhones, a crackdown that could foreshadow less pirated goods sold in the country in the future.

Reuters is reporting that Chinese police in Shanghai have arrested five people allegedly part of “an organized gang that bought components for the phones in Guangdong in southern China and assembled them in rented apartments in Shanghai,” according to a report in the Shanghai Daily.

The bust netted around 200 fake iPhones, which the five in question are accused of making and selling fake versions of Apple’s iconic handset.

“The cost to make one fake iPhone, which used some genuine parts, was around 2,000 yuan ($313),” the report reveals. “It was sold on unauthorized markets and on the Internet for around 4,000 yuan, only a few hundred yuan cheaper than the real iPhone.”

According to police, the faux iPhones functioned much the same as the real ones, but had a considerably shorter battery life. "It's really hard for customers to distinguish the fake ones from the genuine ones," one officer was quoted as saying.

China has long been considered a hotbed for counterfeit electronics, with a particular focus on Apple as the company’s star has continued to shine brighter. Other pirated goods commonly found in the country include expensive brands of watches, bags and computer software.

Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter

(Image courtesy of Engadget)