The largest organisation involved in the distribution of counterfeit goods in Spain has been broken up by tax officials and fake products to the value of around €500 million have been confiscated.
The operation began late last year when the Customs Surveillance Unit of the Tax Office in Irún intercepted two trucks carrying 115,000 bottles of counterfeit perfumes, the labels being all the best name brands. It was discovered that Indian and Pakistani citizens, with vast amounts of money, were behind the introduction into Spain of counterfeit goods from various Asian countries, using a web of intermediary companies for onward distribution.
It was also discovered that the organisation used four large warehouses on the San Luis industrial estate in Málaga. Knowing that Christmas would warrant the organisation stocking up with products, the authorities waited and chose an appropriate moment to raid the warehouses.
Amongst the items seized were thousands of bags, wallets, belts, sports equipment, bottles of cologne, perfume, sneakers, jerseys, copies of movies and video games and close to one million watches.
Five people, all Indian and Pakistani nationals, were arrested in the raids.