Operation of the Tax Agency, the National Police and the Municipal Police of Madrid

• More than 95,000 pairs of counterfeit shoes and 10,000 euros in cash were seized in the operation.

• The initial valuation of the seized assets exceeds two million euros

• Seven people accused of crimes against industrial property and smuggling have been arrested

January 16, 2024.- Customs Surveillance officials from the Tax Agency, in a joint operation with agents from the National Police and the Municipal Police of Madrid, have dismantled nine establishments and warehouses in Madrid, Toledo and Alicante dedicated to the distribution and marketing of counterfeit sports shoes. More than 95,000 pairs of trainers were seized in the operation and seven people were arrested, accused of crimes against industrial property and smuggling.

The operation, called 'Victoria', began in May 2023, when investigators, through surveillance and monitoring actions, discovered the high commercial activity that some individuals, all of Asian origin, were carrying out by introducing sports shoes into the market that would be violating industrial property rights. These actions took place in the Cobo Calleja industrial estate in Fuenlabrada (Madrid), in an industrial warehouse located in Yuncler (Toledo) and in the El Carrús industrial estate in Elche (Alicante).

For this reason, on 21 December, various devices were established in Madrid, Toledo and Elche to proceed with the inspection of the identified premises and warehouses. During the inspections, numerous sports shoes were found, which were examined by experts and representatives of the various brands, certifying their falsity from the outset. The counterfeit products were immediately seized by investigators.

The operation ended with the inspection of nine commercial premises and warehouses located in the provinces of Alicante, Toledo and Madrid, the arrest of seven people responsible for the establishments, the seizure of 10,085 euros in cash and a total of 95,814 pairs of sports shoes (16,044 in Madrid). 53,364 in Toledo and 26,406 in Elche). The provisional value of the seized items is 2,096,384 euros.

The investigation file has been sent to the Investigating Court No. 6 of Fuenlabrada and the proceedings have been sent to the Investigating Court No. 4 of Elche (Alicante).

The operation was carried out by the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency, the Municipal Police of Madrid (General Police Station in the Western Zone, Latina and Usera districts) and the National Police.