Joint operation by the Tax Agency and the National Police

• Forty-six establishments open to the public in the town of Salou (Tarragona) have been inspected, where counterfeit products were marketed and stored.
• The toys seized were composed of small parts, which can be dangerous for children, as these products are not subject to any quality controls.

August 25, 2021 .- A joint operation by the Tax Agency and the National Police has allowed the intervention of 30,231 counterfeit objects from renowned brands, with their market value exceeding 900,000 euros . Forty-two people have been arrested for the alleged offence against industrial property and 46 establishments open to the public have been inspected in the town of Salou (Tarragona), where the counterfeit products were marketed and stored.

The enquiries began after the detection of a high volume of counterfeit effects being marketed in the coastal area of Salou. After receiving several complaints filed by the legal representatives of several commercial firms, reporting the sale of counterfeit products of different brands, some of them were found on display in several commercial establishments in the town in Tarragona.

Screen printing plates used in counterfeiting seized

After learning and analysing the modus operandi used by those under investigation, they were identified and the 46 commercial establishments were inspected. Among the more than 30,000 counterfeit items found were T-shirts, trainers, sunglasses, watches, toys and other textile products, as well as various screen printing plates used to make the counterfeits. The products were on display or stored and packed in cardboard boxes ready for distribution and illicit marketing.

In addition, the toys now found and seized were composed of small parts, which can be dangerous for children, as these products are not subject to any quality controls.