Authorities in the European Union have disclosed the outcomes of Operation Fake Star, a recent initiative aimed at addressing the issue of counterfeit goods within the bloc. The operation, which coincided with other large-scale efforts like Pangea for medicines and Opson for food, was conducted from March to December last year, resulting in the seizure of approximately 2 million items, including fake apparel, footwear, and accessories, estimated to be worth around €87 million.
According to Europol, the Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition (IPC3) unit supported the investigation, revealing that sports and luxury goods topped the list of seized counterfeits. The operation confirmed the utilization of social media networks by criminals to advertise counterfeit products, particularly clothing and footwear, with various merchants posting images on their business social media pages and profiles.
In addition to online platforms, the operation emphasized the continued significance of conventional offline marketplaces, urging law enforcement to pay attention to these areas. The results also encompassed over 3,900 inspections, 646 judicial cases, 1,300 administrative cases, and 378 arrests.
National authorities conducted inspections across various locations, including commercial and industrial areas, flea markets, tourist spots, warehouses, shops, ports, pop-up shops, and small e-commerce parcel distribution companies. The seized counterfeit goods primarily originated from outside of Europe, with China, Hong Kong, Türkiye, and Vietnam identified as the main source locations. These counterfeits entered the EU through both land and sea routes.
Operation Fake Star involved the collaboration of 14 EU countries, such as France, Italy, and Spain, along with the participation of the UK, Ukraine, and Serbia. The initiative sought to address the ongoing challenges posed by counterfeit goods and highlight the need for vigilance across various marketplaces.
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