A major operation by the National Police and Customs Surveillance led to the seizure of nearly 300 counterfeit sunglasses from a well-known optical chain operating in Alicante and nine other provinces. Investigators inspected twelve related businesses across the regions of Barcelona, Ciudad Real, Valencia, Burgos, Cuenca, Mallorca, Murcia, Alicante, Granada, and Madrid. In total, 719 items associated with the counterfeit line were confiscated, including sunglasses cases, booklets, and packaging. The market value of the seized goods is estimated at 43,000 euros.
During the raid, a warehouse connected to the case was also searched. The operation resulted in the arrest of the sole manager of the company under investigation, while employees from the twelve optician outlets were questioned as witnesses.
Authorities said the investigation began after a formal complaint from the Italian company that owns the trademark. The case involved a suspected distributor who marketed the fake eyewear through a chain of opticians in Spain, prompting the coordinated enforcement action.
Analysis
Forensic experts from the scientific police confirmed the counterfeit nature of the products after analyzing a set of glasses submitted as evidence by the complainants at one of the inspected outlets. Further testing was conducted on the remaining glasses across all chain locations, reinforcing the finding that the items were not genuine.
An inspection was conducted to assess the sale of counterfeit sunglasses and to gather more information for the ongoing inquiry. The investigation proceeded with a clear focus on tracing the supply chain and identifying the points of entry for the fraudulent goods.
The investigation identified the suppliers from whom the counterfeit glasses were obtained and distributed. It also traced entities where the investigation determined that a single director had guided multiple companies. In some instances, the person had previously worked for the complainant brand, and it was alleged that they used prior industry experience to introduce counterfeit eyewear into a legitimate network of reputable optical outlets. Customers reportedly purchased these products with confidence in their authenticity.
Authorities conducted simultaneous inspections at twelve opticians across the listed provinces and at the central warehouse associated with the chain. A total of 719 defective articles were seized, and the manager responsible for the fraudulent operation was arrested as part of the coordinated enforcement effort.