Counterfeits Worth EUR 37M Seized in INTERPOL-Coordinated Operations across Eastern Europe

The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), in cooperation with national customs authorities from participating Eastern and Central European countries, recently carried out approximately 1,500 operations resulting in the seizures of nearly 12 million fake items including car parts, alcohol, toys, clothing, cigarettes, cosmetics and household appliances.

The seizures of counterfeits, worth over EUR 37 million (USD 42 million), were executed as part of two projects named Black Poseidon III and White Mercury II. Black Poseidon III participating countries were Belarus, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Turkey and Ukraine, while White Mercury II participating countries were Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.

In Ukraine, the officials discovered three illegal factories, one producing fake sportswear items, the second making counterfeit cement and the third making counterfeit alcohol. During the raid of the alcohol factory, the authorities seized 15,000 bottles of counterfeit alcoholic beverages in addition to 1,000 liters or EUR 50,000 (USD 57,000) worth of vodka ready for bottling.

Prepared by: Jelena Jankovic

For more information, please contact mail@petosevic.com.

Source: INTERPOL’s website