Illegal Activity - Fake branded items found: 13 tons of counterfeit products uncovered
In Cologne, Germany, officials discovered over 67,000 counterfeits of popular brands tucked away in a truck that originated from Turkey. The authorities had initially believed the truck to be carrying "No-Name T-Shirts," but when they took a closer look, they found more than 400 boxes filled with implements that held a combined worth of approximately four million euros.
Inside these boxes, they unearthed clothing for children, workout wear, trousers, 3500 pairs of shoes, and nearly 4500 wallets, keychains, and purses from nearly 50 different brands. The brands included both popular luxury and sports outfits. The truck had been navigated toward a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, but the specific destination hasn't been disclosed by the customs office.
The items, which together weighed almost 13 tons, were carted off to a waste incineration plant for destruction upon discovery. The process began a few weeks prior and was formally announced by the customs office on Tuesday. The shipment had been flagged by the customs officers in Cologne-Wahn, as the supposed "No-Name T-Shirts" left a suspicious trail. Upon further examination, the counterfeit labels were uncovered, leading to the confiscation of the goods.
Read also:
- The counterfeit goods, including branded baby clothes, were destined for a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, yet the exact location remained undisclosed by the customs office.
- The seizure of the 13-ton shipment in Cologne, Germany, marked a significant blow to product counterfeiting, particularly in the realm of branded goods.
- Alongside popular luxury and sports outfits, even baby clothes with well-known brand names were discovered among the counterfeit items.
- Despite the prevention of this large-scale crime in Germany, the issue of product counterfeiting and its impact on branded goods continues to be a concern both in NRW and across Europe, including in countries like Turkey.
