A major international operation has halted the distribution of more than 16 tonnes of counterfeit national football team jerseys and kits. The joint crackdown, led by the National Police alongside Interpol, Europol, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), has intercepted illicit stock ahead of the World Cup that would have carried a market value exceeding seven million euro.
So far, the anti-piracy operation has led to the arrest of 95 individuals across various locations in Spain, specifically in Elche, Denia, Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga.
The investigation was launched in April in anticipation of the upcoming tournament after officers detected a substantial influx of counterfeit football shirts heading into the country. The illegal trade focused on kits for both national teams and football clubs featuring international players set to compete. A large portion of the seized goods consisted of reproductions of the official Spanish national team kit.
Investigating agents found that the garments imitated official designs, crests, and branding, though they were of a far inferior quality compared to genuine products. The network intended to sell the items illicitly through street markets, illegal street vending, online shopping platforms, and social media networks.
The logistical network spanned across the country, utilising storage, distribution, and sales hubs in the targeted municipalities. In total, officers seized more than 66,000 counterfeit items. Police estimate that while the goods would have fetched two million euro on the black market, the actual economic damage caused to the industrial property rights holders amounts to more than seven million euro.
Raids were executed at more than 15 sites nationwide, including industrial warehouses, private homes, market stalls, and storage spaces linked to courier firms. The 95 people detained face charges related to crimes against industrial property. The National Police have confirmed that the investigation remains open and further arrests have not been ruled out.
