TRIESTE – Nearly one million counterfeit clothing items and accessories — highly accurate imitations of major international brands — have been seized at the Port of Trieste in a joint operation by the Guardia di Finanza and the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency.
The goods, originating from the Turkish port of Ambarli and destined for the Netherlands, were concealed in five containers behind legally declared fabrics. Among the seized items were trousers, shirts, pyjamas, bags, caps, belts, t-shirts and sweatshirts bearing logos of brands such as Adidas, Balenciaga, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Dsquared, Fendi, Gucci, Guess, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Moncler, Prada, Stone Island and Versace.
According to fashion brand experts, the quality of the counterfeits was high enough to easily deceive consumers. The investigation, coordinated by Deputy Prosecutor Federico Frezza, was carried out in collaboration with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
Further inquiries led to the identification of additional suspicious shipments and the arrest of five individuals in Belgium.
The commercial value of the seized goods is estimated at over €100 million.
