Joint operation of the Tax Agency and the National Police

• A sample of the seized goods has been sent to a specialized laboratory to check whether the lenses could be harmful to the health of users.
• The person suspected of importing and distributing the imitations has been arrested and four searches have been carried out in the Cobo Calleja industrial estate in Fuenlabrada.

 

October 26, 2016.- The Tax Agency and the National Police have seized 246,120 pairs of imitation glasses from a well-known brand, originating in Asia. The operation led to the arrest of the alleged person responsible for the import and distribution of the imitations, a Chinese citizen, and four searches were carried out in the Cobo Calleja industrial estate in Fuenlabrada (Madrid). A sample of the seized goods has been sent to a specialist laboratory to check whether the lenses could also be harmful to the health of users.

The operation, called 'Vision', was launched after receiving information from French customs about a seizure of counterfeit goods made in that country, possibly intended for sale in Spain. Specifically, the French authorities seized 75,000 pairs of glasses at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport destined for a company based in Fuenlabrada, Madrid. The company that was the victim of the counterfeiting had also reported the presence of these products on the market, which used distinctive signs that could be confused with those of its brand.

With this information, investigations were initiated and the companies that were receiving the merchandise were revealed. The glasses were taken to a warehouse not open to the public, from where they were distributed under imitation brands, using very similar logos, which could be confused with those of the complainant brand. The lack of coincidence between the ownership of the warehouse and the recipients, in addition to the changes in location within the Cobo Calleja industrial estate, made it difficult to locate the seized goods.

Despite the difficulties, the presence of the imitation material was finally confirmed, and four searches were carried out, all in the aforementioned Cobo Calleja industrial estate in Fuenlabrada. The person responsible for importing and distributing the counterfeits was arrested during the operation, and 246,120 pairs of glasses and 220 pairs of temples imitating the brand were seized. This merchandise has been sent to a specialized laboratory to check its protection levels and whether they may be harmful to users.

The genre was imported from Asia and introduced through various European customs. Once inside the Community territory, it was sent to Spain, thus trying to avoid customs controls in our country. The glasses have been removed, seized and brought before the court.

The Regional Customs Surveillance Area of the Tax Agency in Madrid, the Central Unit for Specialized and Violent Crime of the National Police and the Local Judicial Police Brigade of Fuenlabrada participated in the operation.

 

A photographic annex is attached to the Press Release.