EU fake clothing operation nets almost 2m items

Authorities in the EU have reported the results of Operation Fake Star, the bloc’s latest crackdown on  counterfeit goods, intercepting fake apparel, footwear and accessories with a value of around €87m.

The operation – which runs alongside other large-scale efforts to tackle counterfeits including Pangea for medicines and Opson for food – ran between March and December last year and seized nearly 2m items that were suspected of contravening the intellectual property of more than 250 brands.

Sports and luxury goods were at the top of the seized counterfeits list, according to Europol, whose Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition (IPC3) unit supported the investigation.

“The investigations confirmed expectations that criminals are using social media networks to advertise counterfeit products,” said the organisation. “Different merchants have been seen posting pictures of available counterfeit goods, mostly clothing and footwear, on their business social media pages and profiles.”

The results of the operation also show however that conventional offline marketplaces remain an important reality and deserve the attention of law enforcement.

Other highlights included more than 3,900 inspections carried out, 646 judicial cases and 1,300 administrative cases opened, and 378 arrests.

National authorities checked commercial and industrial areas, flea markets, tourist areas, warehouses, shops, and other similar places where counterfeit goods can be sold – along with ports, pop-up shops and small e-commerce parcel distribution companies.

The seized counterfeit goods originated mainly from outside of Europe, with China, Hong Kong, Türkiye and Vietnam being the main source locations. The counterfeits entered the EU by land or by sea routes.

14 EU countries participated in Fake Star, including France, Italy and Spain, with the UK, Ukraine and Serbia also taking part.