National Police agents seized more than 18,000 counterfeit products at commercial establishments in Lloret de Mar (Gerona) in a joint operation with the Tax Office Customs Surveillance. The agents arrested 16 people and inspected 19 establishments where goods of many well-known brands – textiles and leather goods displayed or stored and ready for sale – were identified with a market value of more than half a million euros. A parallel investigation wholesale distribution network of fake textile products Sold in markets in the province of Alicante. Both actions are part of the European EMPACT initiative, led by Spain through the National Police, which includes and led to various operational actions in the field of trademark counterfeiting.
The investigation began last March when the agents received several complaints made by legal representatives of different agencies. prestigious brands. These complaints were directed at public establishments where a large number of counterfeit products were allegedly stored, served and marketed in Lloret de Mar (Girona).
18,322 bonds with a value exceeding 549,660 euros were seized
After several police efforts, the agents carried out a police operation which resulted in the incident. Arrest of 16 people and supervision of 19 commercial establishments. In them they found numerous counterfeit products of well-known prestigious brands, displayed or hidden and perfectly arranged for their distribution and illegal commercialization. The seized items are mainly textile products and accessories such as t-shirts, trousers, sweatshirts, ornaments, bags and leather goods, which violate the industrial property rights of different well-known brands and have a market value of 549,660 Euros.
Additionally, during the research, they also found different plates for materialization. in place fraud, so by stamping, die cutting or gluingsticks the brand logo on leather goods or textile products.
Parallel operation with distribution in markets in the province of Alicante
In the parallel investigation, three people were arrested and the total 17,667 counterfeit textile products of well-known brands. The investigation began after counterfeit clothing such as polo shirts, t-shirts and trousers sold at markets in Alicante province was tampered with. After several efforts, the agents were found two industrial buildings where textiles are printed and wholesaled.
The two actions are part of Operational Action 3.4 FAKESTAR, which fights against the marketing of counterfeit products of well-known brands – especially offline textiles – managed by Spain through the National Police. The FAKESTAR action is part of a large group action in Europe to counteract it. violation of intellectual and industrial property rights and product counterfeiting, all framed under EMPACT, a multidisciplinary European initiative to combat organized crime in various fields.