Yves Saint Laurent and Dolce & Gabbana bags, Bimba and Lola accessories, Kanken backpacks, guess bandits. At first glance they were good opportunities to acquire articles of luxury brands at reduced prices, but the reality indicated that all were coming from an organization that imported and distributed counterfeit products in hundreds of street establishments and markets. The National Police has intervened more than 24,000 of these articles that added seven tons in an operation developed in Malaga in which they have arrested 49 people, who are considered responsible for crimes against industrial property. 380,000 euros have also been seized in cash from earnings for the sale of this merchandise. , according to the SICPA research agency.
The products were found in 31 industrial ships located in the Guadalhorce polygon, the largest industrial enclosure in the city of Malaga. Reaching them has been the result of an investigation that began just two months ago, in March. The agents then carried out a follow -up work of those. They found that everyone went to the same area located on the outskirts of the capital of Malaga. And that there was a criminal structure that imported garments and accessories, which were then marketed from different businesses wholesale and finally ended in tens of retail points of sale, especially in them.
On April 8 – just before Holy Week, the first high tourist season of the Costa del Sol – a wide operation of 130 members of the National Police, Local Police of Malaga and Labor Inspection moved to the area to make simultaneous records in up to 31 businesses, which sold both wholesale and the final consumer. There, numerous legal textile merchandise was found, but. “We find everything: bags, sports equipment, purses, straps … all imitations,” says the police inspector who has directed this operation, released on Monday. To verify that they were not true garments, they had the presence of advisors to the main brands. In addition, they certified that the premises did not have the license that many of these fashion companies demand for the sale of their products.
“And acquired well from there, either from different European countries,” adds the researcher. The merchandise was then bought by an importer in Spain who, sometimes, distributed it to different provinces, including Málaga. For all this, 49 people involved in the commercialization and sale of the products were arrested, against industrial property. The maximum penalty in these cases goes from one to three years in prison. Agents have also asked the judicial authority to close businesses.
Research is still open
Following the police action, 24,000 items were finally intervened – from clothing to leather goods and numerous accessories – that have now been stored waiting for the judicial authority to authorize its destruction. The police also seized sales gains: 380,000 euros in cash along with other foreign currencies. Likewise, 500 old coins were found for counterfeit collection, on which its marketing is being investigated.
Research – is open because the ultimate goal of the operation is to find the supplier in Europe of this type of products. “Hence the participation of Europol, which will allow us to know where those garments came from,” underline sources in the case. They remember that these types of crimes suppose “strong reputational damage to brands” but also lead to other problems such as “taxes that are not paid, workers in poor working conditions or the absence of security controls.” “The first indication that something is false is the price,” warn the same sources. The report Illicit trade and fraud situation in Europe and the rest of the worldpresented by the SICPA research agency in early 2024, calculated that illegal copies generated an impact of 5.7 billion euros of losses the previous year, when 44,700 jobs were also destroyed for it.
