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More than 16,000 counterfeit items and 80 boxes of expired masks seized in Las Palmas

Joint operation of the Tax Agency, the General Corps of the Canarian Police and the Local Police of Agüimes

  • Searches have been carried out at a premises on La Naval street in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and two industrial warehouses in the town of Agüimes, in the south of the island.
  • The seized merchandise has a value close to 5 million euros
  • There are five people of Chinese nationality and residents of the Canary Islands charged with a crime against Industrial Property

March 7, 2023.- Customs Surveillance Officials from the Tax Agency, in a joint operation with agents from the General Corps of the Canarian Police and the Agüimes Local Police, have intervened more 16,000 counterfeit products from exclusive brands and 80 boxes of expired masks in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. There are five people of Chinese nationality under investigation.

The investigations were initiated by the Risk Analysis Unit of the Maritime Customs of the port of Las Palmas, which detected shipments of counterfeit merchandise originating in China and destined for a merchant resident on the island of Gran Canaria.

From that moment on, a surveillance and verification device was initiated by the Customs Surveillance Operational Unit of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria that determined the existence of the warehouses and the public sales premises. The final intervention was coordinated with the General Corps of the Canarian Police and the Local Police of Agüimes, in order to simultaneously coordinate the interventions in both municipalities. In this exploitation phase, a bazaar in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and two warehouses in the town of Agüimes, in the south of the island, were registered.

After the searches, the masks and fakes were seized. These seized items could have a value close to 5 million euros according to the estimate of specialized experts.

Customs Supervision: Presentation of charges for smuggling and related offences 

Free telephone 900351378.

Email: denunciasvigilanciaaduanera@correo.aeat.es