A joint operation by the Tax Agency and the Guardia Civil

• The action is the result of the controls carried out in port areas when disembarking ships that make regular journeys between islands
• The carrier did not have a delivery note or invoice to cover the large load, which aroused the agents' suspicions from the outset.

May 23, 2023.- The Tax Agency and the Civil Guard of Gran Canaria investigated two people on February 11 as alleged perpetrators of a crime against industrial property after being caught in a checkpoint transporting counterfeit products from Fuerteventura to Gran Canaria worth 1,905,919.38 euros, according to an expert report.

On February 11, the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency and the Tax Section of the Port of La Luz of the Civil Guard carried out a joint service during the disembarkation of one of the ships that makes regular journeys of people and vehicles between Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria.

One of the vehicles was selected for cargo checking and it was found to be carrying a significant amount of products, including watches, caps, belts and various types of clothing.

During the course of the proceedings, it was found that the two passengers of the vehicle were not able at any time to provide an invoice or delivery note that would support the lawful origin of the cargo. Investigators therefore began to suspect that these products might actually be counterfeits, a suspicion that was confirmed when they observed that most of the products corresponded to internationally renowned brands that are often victims of crimes against industrial property.

For all these reasons and in order to determine the origin of the cargo, it was seized on-site and transferred to police facilities at the disposal of the judicial and customs authorities pending the expert report issued by an anti-piracy expert on its value and authenticity.

In addition, the investigators carried out a detailed count of the packages containing various fashion items and accessories, bringing the total number to 3,681 items. On the other hand, once a detailed list was made by type of product, brand and model, the merchandise was analyzed by an expert attached to the Anti-Piracy Commission of the Ministry of Culture, who certified that they were counterfeit garments and quantified the total value of the merchandise at 1,905,919.38 euros.

For all these reasons, two people were arrested as alleged perpetrators of a crime against industrial property, and the seized items and the proceedings brought were placed at the disposal of the Court on Duty in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.