Several People Arrested in Counterfeit Sunglasses Case Linked to Spanish Outfit
Spanish authorities report that the National Police have apprehended three individuals suspected of participating in a crime against industrial property by distributing and selling counterfeit sunglasses from a well-known brand. The goods were advertised online, and police investigations traced one distribution point to the town of San Vicente del Raspeig. The arrests come after a coordinated effort to dismantle a network that marketed fake eyewear on the internet, harming the brand’s reputation and consumer trust in the market.
In the initial stage of the case, a complaint was filed at the Alicante Provincial Police Station by the representative of a popular optical brand. The complainant alerted officers that counterfeit products bearing the brand’s mark were being sold online unlawfully. The tip triggered a broader inquiry into the online shops involved and the possibility of a broader operation behind the web stores associated with the brands in question.
According to the complaint, two online storefronts were distributing sunglasses bearing the brand without authorization. The complainant himself had purchased items from these stores and, through an expert assessment, confirmed that the sunglasses were indeed counterfeit. This corroboration helped establish a pattern that authorities could pursue under applicable laws protecting intellectual property rights.
Facing these facts, agents from the National Police, assigned to the Specialty Crime Group of the Alicante Judicial Police Brigade, began a formal investigation aimed at identifying, locating, and detaining the people operating those online shops or businesses distributing the infringing products. The objective was to determine whether they were committing offenses against industrial property and to disrupt the illegal supply chain driving the sales of counterfeit eyewear.
Investigative efforts included multiple inquiries and police actions that revealed several Spanish companies involved in selling the counterfeit items. Police located the physical headquarters of one of these businesses in the municipality of San Vicente, confirming the scale and reach of the operation. This discovery indicated a broader distribution network feeding a legitimate courier and delivery system, a hallmark of large-volume counterfeit operations.
The discovery led to heightened surveillance of the establishment, where law enforcement observed a substantial flow of parcel delivery activity. This rapid turnover suggested a high-volume sale of counterfeit sunglasses, reinforcing the case for criminal activity tied to industrial property rights violations.
Upon conducting a controlled inspection of the shop, authorities seized a total of 741 counterfeit sunglasses, which were subsequently removed from circulation. The principal suspect connected to the store was detained on suspicion of an offense against industrial property. The investigation continued to identify and locate the suppliers behind the illicit goods, resulting in the identification and detention of two men aged 53 and 63, who were also suspected of involvement in the same offense.
All actions conducted by the police were forwarded to the Alicante Court of Magistrates for ongoing judicial processing. The case highlights how counterfeit goods can move through legitimate-looking channels seeking to exploit consumer demand while undermining legitimate brands and market fairness [citation from authorities].