IP/05/1383

Brussels, 8 November 2005

International customs operation“FAKE”

Almost 30.000 counterfeit batteries at the port of Thessaloniki, 60.000 light bulbs at Gioia Tauro in Italy, several hundreds of thousands of packets of counterfeit branded cigarettes at the port of Antwerp and tonnes and tonnes of counterfeit clothing all over Europe: these are just some of the wide range of counterfeit products netted by the customs operation “FAKE”. This joint operation by the 25 EU Member States was the first to be coordinated in the new permanent technical infrastructure of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). It was organised by OLAF and the Directorate General for Taxation and the Customs Union (TAXUD) from May 2005 onwards. Its final results were presented today in Brussels and Rome.

“Mutual administrative assistance in customs matters is a key factor for the protection of the European Union’s financial interests”, insisted Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission with responsibility for administrative affairs, audit and anti-fraud. “As customs duties and a proportion of VAT make up a significant part of the Community budget, we rely on the close cooperation of the national authorities. Operation FAKEis a perfect example”, he said in Brussels. “In view of the negative economic impact on European businesses, the risks for consumers and the fact that it is preferable to fight such crimes with actions rather than words, it was especially important that this operation should target counterfeit products”, added the Commissioner for Taxation and the Customs Union, László Kovács.

The percentage of counterfeit goods is constantly rising and today accounts for 5 to 9% of world trade,depriving manufacturers of 200 to 300 billion Euros throughout the world. The public authorities also lose substantial tax revenue, mainly VAT but also customs duties, through an underground economy that directly affects the EU’s own resources and finances organised crime.

Counterfeit products of Chinese origin were the target of the joint customs operation codenamed “FAKE”carried out between 17 and27May 2005. The operation’s follow-up came to an end this morning in Rome, with the debriefing of the Commission representatives and the Member States.

The operation “FAKE” involved over 250 customs officers across the EU. The customs authorities of the 25 Member States collaborated closely under the coordination of Commission departments (OLAF/DGTAXUD) by stepping up the exchange of information in order to pinpoint flows of counterfeit goods in ordinary commercial transactions. Most international EU ports and airports were involved over the two-week period. The operation was directed by a team of eleven liaison officers from the MemberStates and Commission officials from the new permanent technical support infrastructure for joint customs operations set up in OLAF’s premises in Brussels.

Successful first operation

Operation FAKEwas a resounding success in terms of coordination of operational cooperation,producing impressive results, which were presented today in press conferences organised in Rome, with the owners of the counterfeited brands present, and by the customs administrations of several Member States:

-140 consignments for air traffic and 60 containers were seized or detained.

-Nearly 500000 kg of goodsandover two million items infringing intellectual property rights were intercepted by EU customs authorities, in particular textiles, footwear, electronic equipment, medicines, cigarettes and other articles.

-Counterfeit products were detected in nearly a quarter of the containers selected for a physical or “scanner” check. Routine checks come up with such finds in only 1 to 4% ofcases.

At the same time the permanent technical infrastructure set up in OLAF demonstrated the extra advantages it can offer compared with operations carried out in the Member States, with reductions in costs (3 to 4 times lower) and less time required to mount the operation (3months instead of 18) making it possible to respond to emergency or crisis situations. This new tool opens up interesting prospects for other areas of fraud affecting the EU’s financial interests.

In addition, the Europeans Commission’s DG TAXUD, in the light of the results obtained by the customs authorities during recent years (a rise of over 1000% in the number of objects seized by Customs Officials between 1998 and 2004) and the telling results of the operation “FAKE”, presented a few days ago a Communications that was clearly aiming for a more operational policy in order better to protect the European consumers from the damage done by counterfeiting and similar crimes (see IP/05/1247andMEMO/05/364).

See also: Case Study, Results of “FAKE”, MEMO/05/250, MEMO/05/364, OLAF/05/08

All information and audiovisual material on the OLAF website:

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Counterfeit: Results of Operation “ FAKE”

Date / MemberState IATA Code / Quantity and type of goods retained / Means of transport / Country of origin / Location Transhipment Discharge / Country of desti-nation
18/05/2005 / BE / Caps / 390 pieces / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / BE
18/05/2005 / BE / Soccer outfits / 97 pieces - Shoes / 5 pairs / Air - UPS / CN / BE Zaventem / BE
18/05/2005 / BE / Caps / 435 pieces / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / BE
19/05/2005 / BE / Hats / 360 pieces + 720 pieces / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / BE
19/05/2005 / BE / Handbags / 12 pieces - wallets / 301 pieces / Air - UPS / CN / BE Zaventem / BE
20/05/2005 / BE / Shoes / 57 pairs - Handbags / 57 pieces - wallets / 26 pieces - bag / 1 piece / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / BE
20/05/2005 / BE / Caps / 330 pieces / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / BE
20/05/2005 / BE / Jeansjackets / 100 pieces / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / DE
20/05/2005 / BE / Shoes / 23 pairs / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / AR
20/05/2005 / BE / Caps / 922 pieces / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / IT
20/05/2005 / BE / Sunglasses / 500 pieces / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / IT
20/05/2005 / BE / Jeantrousers / 12600 pieces / Sea / CN / BE Antwerp / IT
23/05/2005 / BE / Handbags / 16640 pieces / Sea / CN / BE Antwerp / LV
24/05/2005 / BE / Mobile phone covers / 8250 pieces / Sea / Truck / CN / BE Mouscron / FR
25/05/2005 / BE / Sunglasses / 500 pieces / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / EL
25/05/2005 / BE / Handbags / 45 pieces - Shawls / 38 pieces / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / BE
25/05/2005 / BE / Suits / 7 pieces - Socks / 5 pairs - Scarfs / 30 pieces - Belts / 9 pieces / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / BE
25/05/2005 / BE / Toothbrushes / 289500 pieces / Sea / CN / BE Antwerp / IE
25/05/2005 / BE / Razoblades / 470000 pieces / Sea / CN / BE Antwerp / BE
26/05/2005 / BE / Mobile phone accessories / 1430 pieces / Air / CN / BE Zaventem / BE
23/05/2005 / CY / T-Shirts / 248 pieces / Air / CN / CY Larnaca / CY
23/05/2005 / CY / T-Shirts, Jeans, Blouses, Belts / 315 pieces / Air / CN / CY Larnaca / CY
23/05/2005 / CY / T-Shirts / 496 pieces / Air / CN / CY Larnaca / CY
24/05/2005 / CY / Shoes / 6 pairs - Handbags / 4 pieces - Ties / 2 pieces / UPS Courrier / CN / CY Larnaca / CY
25/05/2005 / CY / Sporstshoes / 2 pairs / Air / CN / CY Larnaca / CY
23/05/2005 / CZ / Boy trousers / 3360 pieces - Woman T-Shirts / 6640 pieces / Road (T1) / CN / DEHamburg / CZ
25/05/2005 / CZ / Plastic mobile phone covers type Nokia, CN-Code 8529 9040 / 4450 pieces / Air / TW / HK / CZ
17/05/2005 / DE FRA / 58 pairs of sporting shoes, CN-Code : 6404 1100 / Air / CN / USA / DE
18/05/2005 / DE FRA / 42 pairs of sporting shoes, CN-Code : 6402 9993 / Air / CN / DE
21/05/2005 / DE FRA / 39 mobile phones (10 logo Ericsson, 9 logo Sony, 10 logo Motorola, 10 logo Panasonic); 40 accumulators (10 of each logo), 20 charging devices (10 logo Motorola, 10 logo Ericsson) / CN-Code : 8525 2091 000 / Air / CN / DE
22/05/2005 / DE FRA / 350 MP3 Players / CN-Code : 8520 / Air / CN / DE via HK / CZ
26/05/2005 / DE FRA / 16 pairs of sporting shoes, CN 6404 1100 900 / Air / CN / DE
24/05/2005 / ES / Sunglasses / unknown quantity / Ship / CN / ES
26/05/2005 / ES / Locks / 540 pieces / Ship / CN / HK / ES
27/05/2005 / ES / Trousers / Ship / CN / ES
27/05/2005 / ES / T-shirts / Ship / CN / ES
27/05/2005 / ES / Towels / Ship / CN / ES
23/05/2005 / FI / Trousers / 3000 pieces / Air / CN / FI / LU
17/05/2005 / FR / Shoes / 1760 pieces / Air / CN / FR / ES
18/05/2005 / FR / Ink toner / 3299 pieces / Air / CN / FR / GN
25/05/2005 / FR / Purses / 192 pieces - Belts / 80 pieces - Belt locks / 88 pieces - Bags / 5 pieces / Air / CN / FR / FR
27/05/2005 / FR / Watches / 48050 pieces / Air / HK / CN ? / FR / VE
19/05/2005 / GB / Handbags / 800 pieces / Air / CN / UK
GB / Bags / Air / HK / UK
GB / Watches / Air / HK / UK
GB / Wallets / Air / HK / UK
GB / Jumpers / Air / HK / UK
GB / Jeans / Air / HK / UK
GB / Neck straps / Air / HK / UK
GB / Wristband / Air / HK / UK
GB / Leather jacket / Air / CN / UK
GB / T-shirts / Air / CN / UK
GB / Pvc belt / Air / CN / TH / UK
GB / Jeans / Air / CN / UK
GB / Jackets jumpers / Air / CN / UK
GB / Footwear / Air / CN / UK
GB / Pullover / Air / CN / UK
GB / Clothes,shoes,bags / Air / CN / UK / NG
GB / Neck straps / Air / HK / SG / UK
GB / Shoes / Air / HK / UK
GB / Bags,wallets / Air / CN / UK
GB / Computer boards / 2200 pieces / Air / CN / UK
GB / Shoes / Air / CN / UK
GB / Shoes / Air / CN / UK
GB / Caps / 5040 pieces / Air / CN / MY / UK
GB / Evening bags / Air / CN / MY / UK
GB / Children clothes / Air / HK / UK
GB / Clothing tags / Air / HK / UK
GB / Pvc belts / Air / HK / UK
GB / Brassiers / Air / HK / UK
GB / Plastic cables / Air / HK / UK / UK
GB / Phone accessories / Air / HK / UK
GB / Plastic shoes / HK / UK
GB / Leather jackets / Air / CN / UK / ES
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / 2 pkgs CD walkman / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / Nike Trainers / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / 1600 digital cameras / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / Leather jackets / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / 360 shoes / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / Mobile phone accessories / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / 72 bags and wallets / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / 160 sandals / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / Polo shirts / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / Belts / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / Lights / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / Trophies / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / Shoes / Air / CN / UK / UK
25/05/2005 / GB LHR / Trimmings / Air / CN / UK / UK
19/05/2005 / GR / Batteries / 29000, Mobiles / 400, Caps / 1600, Belts / 6300 / Ship / CN / GR Thessaloniki / BG
19/05/2005 / GR / Caps / 18000 pieces, sportswear (T-shirts / 9600 pieces, vermudas / 2400 pieces, belts / 6500 pieces), bathing suits / 2000 pieces / Ship / CN / GR Thessaloniki / BG
19/05/2005 / GR / Sportswear and bathing suits / 300 pieces / Ship / CN / GR Thessaloniki / BG
17/05/2005 / IT / 419 boxes T-Shirt / 20520 T-Shirt / Ship / CN / IT La Spezia / IT
17/05/2005 / IT / 705 boxes - miscellaneous / Ship / CN / IT La Spezia / IT
17/05/2005 / IT / 922 boxes textiles items, suitcase for computers / Ship / CN / IT La Spezia / IT
21/05/2005 / IT / 1250 boxes polo shirts / 10080 Kg / Ship / CN / IT Taranto / IT
21/05/2005 / IT / 850 boxes T-Shirts / 5040 Kg / Ship / CN / IT Taranto / IT
23/05/2005 / IT / 882 boxes miscellaneous, light bulbs, etc / 14490 Kg / Ship / CN / IT Gioia Tauro / IT
24/05/2005 / IT / 2246 boxes miscellaneous (gadget) - partial MSKU911926) / Ship / CN / IT Gioia Tauro / IT
IT / Mobile phone accessories / Air / CN / IT
IT / Sunglasses / 3100 pieces / Air / CN / IT
IT / Fabrics / Air / CN / HK / IT
19/05/2005 / IT MPX / 36 boxes wallets, cotton belts, ruscksacks / 41592 pieces / Air / CN / IT / IT
23/05/2005 / IT MPX / 152 boxes MP3 Players / 1318 Kg / Air / CN / IT / IT
23/05/2005 / IT MPX / 52 pairs shoes / Air / CN / IT / IT
24/05/2005 / IT MPX / 15 boxes MP3 Players / 142 Kg / Air / CN / IT / IT
25/05/2005 / IT MPX / 1 box watches / 320 Kg / Air / HK / IT / IT
19/05/2005 / LU / Caps / 15000 pieces / Air / CN / LU Airport / ES
19/05/2005 / LU / T-Shirts / 250 pieces / Air / CN / LU Airport / CH
19/05/2005 / LU / Sunglasses / 375 Kg / Air / CN / LU Airport / CI
19/05/2005 / LU / Sunglasses / 384 Kg / Air / CN / LU Airport / CI
19/05/2005 / LU / Housing mobile phones / 378 Kg / Air / CN / LU Airport / FI
25/05/2005 / LU / Trousers / 600 pieces / Air / CN / LU Airport / MX
19/05/2005 / MT / 120 boxes shoes / 6450 Kg / Ship / CN / MT / MA
19/05/2005 / MT / 330 boxes shoes / 3630 Kg / Ship / CN / DZ
25/05/2005 / MT / 115 boxes shoes / 6500 Kg / Ship / CN / MT / MA
25/05/2005 / MT / 118 boxes shoes / 6800 Kg / Ship / CN / MT / MA
25/05/2005 / MT / 117 Boxes shoes / 6280 Kg / Ship / CN / MT / MA
25/05/2005 / MT / 118 boxes shoes / 6550 Kg / Ship / CN / MT / MA
25/05/2005 / MT / 115 Boxes shoes / 6600 Kg / Ship / CN / MT / MA
18/05/2005 / NL / Sportingshoes / 1 pair, trousers / 17, blazer / 11, shirts / 26 / Air UPS / CN / NL
19/05/2005 / NL / Sport shoes / 44 pieces / Post / CN / NL
20/05/2005 / NL / caps / 65 pieces / Courier / CN / NL
20/05/2005 / NL / DVD / 80 pieces, 52 different titles / EMS / Post / CN / NL
24/05/2005 / NL SPL / 10 ladiesbags, 30 bags / Fedex courier / CN / NL
24/05/2005 / NL SPL / Clothing / 5180 pieces of bad quality / Air freight / CN / NL SPL / NG
PL / Toys / Air / CN / PL
PT / Bags for camera / Sea / CN / PT
20/05/2005 / SE ARN / Viagra / 1200 pills - Viagra / 288 holographic stickers - Viagra / 300 empty boxes - Viagra / 335 product leaflets / Air (EMS) private import / CN / SE ARN / SE GOT
23/05/2005 / SE ARN / Stanozolol / 1000 tablets / Air (EMS) private import / CN / SE ARN / SE GOT
24/05/2005 / SE ARN / 34 golfclubs, golfbags and golf accessories / Air / CN / SE ARN
24/05/2005 / SE ARN / 31 golfclubs, golfbags and golf accessories / Air / CN / SE ARN / SE
24/05/2005 / SE ARN / 31 golfclubs, golfbags and golf accessories / Air / CN / SE ARN / SE
24/05/2005 / SE ARN / 36 golfclubs, golfbags and golf accessories / Air / CN / SE ARN / SE
24/05/2005 / SE ARN / 46 golfclubs / Air / CN / SE ARN / SE
26/05/2005 / SE GBG / Children shoes / 80 pairs (+ non declared 1480 Satibo capsules, Koryo Insam, 250 Kg honey / Sea / CN / SE GBG / SE GBG
26/05/2005 / SE GBG / 120 bags / Sea / CN / SE STH / SE STH
26/05/2005 / SE MAO / 230 golfclubs (addressed to 9 different private persons) / Post / CN / SE MAO / SE MAO
26/05/2005 / SE ARN / 379 key straps / Air / CN / SE ARN / SE ARN
26/05/2005 / SE ARN / 47 golfclubs and accessories / Air / CN / SE ARN / SE ARN
20/05/2005 / SI / Shirts trousers / 637 pieces / Air / Fedex / TH
20/05/2005 / SI LJU / Cartridges / 155 pieces - Razors / 20 pieces / Air / CN / DE SI / SI
26/05/2005 / SI LJU / Mobile phone accessories (housings) / 265 pieces / Air / CN / SI / SI
31/05/2005 / SE STO / 280 ST ADIDAS RYGGSÄCKAR / SEA / CN / SE:STOCKHOLM / SE
31/05/2005 / SE STO / 240 ST NIKE RYGGSÄCKAR / SEA / CN / SE:STOCKHOLM / SE
3/06/2005 / BE ANT / 8.500.000 Marlboro / SEA / CN / BE ANT / PL
7/06/2005 / BE ANT / 8.703.203 Benson & Hedge / SEA / CN / BE ANT / BE
8/06/2005 / FR CDG / 55 sport shoes / AIR / CN / FR CDG / FR
8/06/2005 / FR CDG / 20 belts / AIR / CN / FR CDG / FR
5/06/2005 / PT / 1800 nail cutters / SEA / CN / ES / PT
19/05/2005 / PT / 1965 watches / SEA / CN / ES / PT
2/06/2005 / PT / 4056 pars of socks / SEA / CN / NL / PT
312 towels
25/05/2005 / PT / 2280 decks of cards / SEA / CN / PT
27/05/2005 / LT / Eye-shades/ 9600 pcs., caps/ 2000 pcs. / Air/Truck / CN / LT Vilnius airport / LT
3/06/2005 / SE / 62 golfclubs and golf equipment + clothing, bags, wallets + accessories (= 7 private imports) / AIR / CN / SE/STO / SE
3/06/2005 / SE / 10 000 key straps / AIR / CN / SE/STO / SE
27/05/2005 / SI / 62.420 different pvc bags, 16.018 kg / Sea / CN / SI / HR

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