The ASAE (Food and Economic Safety Authority) announced this Wednesday the seizure of more than 645 thousand counterfeit items, with a value of more than 1.4 million euros, after an action carried out in a warehouse in Vila do Conde, Porto district.
According to the organization, the inspection operation was carried out as part of the “fight against violations of industrial property rights, namely counterfeiting, imitation and illegal use of brands”, resulting in the seizure of articles of different types.
“645,930 counterfeit items were seized, namely sports equipment, clothing, accessories, perfumes, cosmetics, smartwatches and airpods, and the respective criminal proceedings were instituted for the illegal sale or concealment of products”, the statement reads.
ASAE estimated that the value of the seizure was 1,462,973 euros and reported that “the suspect who managed the restricted access warehouse (where the operation took place) already has a history of this illicit practice”.
“Counterfeiting is a crime that precedes money laundering, the latter being a crime that requires prevention and priority investigation. ASAE will continue to carry out inspections, within the scope of its powers, throughout the national territory, with a view to safeguarding market rules and free competition, defending industrial property rights”, the organization added.
Source: www.cmjornal.pt
