Europol today announced the results of Operation Fake Star, a coordinated operation against the illegal trade in counterfeit apparel, footwear, and accessories. The operation ran from March to December 2022 and involved law enforcement agencies from 27 EU Member States, as well as Europol and Interpol.
During the operation, authorities carried out 3,921 inspections and seized 1,956,607 counterfeit goods, with an estimated total value of EUR 87 million. The seized goods included a wide range of counterfeit products, including clothing, shoes, bags, watches, and jewelry.
The investigations also revealed that criminals are using social media networks to advertise counterfeit products. Authorities found that merchants were posting pictures of available counterfeit goods, mostly clothing, and footwear, on their business social media pages and profiles.
The results of Operation Fake Star demonstrate the scale of the problem of counterfeit goods and the importance of international cooperation in combating this crime. Europol is committed to working with its partners to protect consumers and businesses from the harmful effects of counterfeiting.
