- Bulgarian Customs teamed up with Portuguese Customs, Frontex, Europol and EUIPO in an anti-smuggling operation
- Counterfeit goods undermine the EU budget and could pose serious danger for the health of the consumers
- The total amount of all seized goods during Joint Action Days Pirates 1 exceeds 33 million euro
Between 9-19
May, fifteen EU Member States joined efforts to prevent hundreds of thousands
of counterfeit items to reach the European market.
Everyday criminal networks attempt to penetrate the external borders of the EU and profit of off illegal activities. Tirelessly improving the integrated border management and responding to the challenges at the European frontiers, Frontex together with Bulgaria and Portugal organised an operation seeking to thwart smugglers at land and sea borders.
Counterfeit goods, usually cheaper and of inferior quality, can endanger the health of consumers, undermine the legitimate market and negatively affect EU revenues and the labour market situation.
Operation
Pirates 1, part of EMPACT Joint Action Days, involved a wide range of law
enforcement authorities and was actively supported by Europol, OLAF, EUIPO,
CELBET, LEWP-Customs, and the Pharmaceutical Security Institute. Thanks to
their shared expertise and cooperation, JAD Pirates 1 resulted in the seizure
of counterfeit goods of approximate market value[1] of over 33 million
euro.
The seizure included clothes infringing the rights of more than 60 trademarks, footwear, bags, wallets, belts, sunglasses and other accessories, as well as perfumes, electric bikes, and watches.
