International fake food raids bring record results
11 Jun 2014 04:10 PM
An operation against
international counterfeiting gangs has resulted in nearly 100 arrests and the
seizure of fake food and drink.
A coordinated operation against
international counterfeiting gangs has resulted in nearly 100 arrests and the
seizure of a vast haul of fake food and drink.
More than 1,200 tonnes of fake
or sub-standard food and nearly 430,000 litres of counterfeit drinks were
seized, with 96 people arrested in an operation across 33 countries in the
Americas, Asia and Europe, including the UK, earlier this year
(2014).
Operation Opson, jointly run by
Interpol and Europol, began in 2011 to tackle the criminal production and sale
of counterfeit ‘protected food name’ products, such as Gorgonzola
or Champagne. It is now an international project that regularly seizes hundreds
of tonnes of fake and sub-standard food.
The success of Operation Opson
III, run between December 2013 and January 2014, was due to unprecedented
cooperation between national and international law enforcement agencies and the
food industry. This improved collaboration was praised today at the
International IP Enforcement Summit London by Intellectual Property
Minister Lord Younger.
Intellectual Property Minister,
Lord Younger said:
Fake and sub-standard food poses
a serious health risk to consumers and takes money away from legitimate
producers and retailers.
The UK will continue to share
its expertise in the international fight against fake food and work with our
partners to bring these unscrupulous criminal gangs to
justice.
Coordination was key to the
success of Opson III, and the Intellectual Property Office played this vital
role for the UK. Building on this, I will be hosting the 2014 Opson IV planning
conference next month in London.
The international fight against
organised crime groups involved in the trade of fake and sub-standard food
continues to yield strong results. The Operation recovered:
- more than 131,000 litres of oil
and vinegar
- more than 80,000
biscuits
- more than 1,200 tonnes of fake
or sub-standard food
- nearly 430,000 litres of
counterfeit drinks
- 20 tonnes of spices and
condiments
- 186 tonnes of
cereals
- 45 tonnes of dairy products and
42 litres of honey
Operation Opson III specifically
targeted the organised crime networks behind the illicit trade in counterfeit
and unregulated food and drink. It involved police, customs, national food
agencies, regulatory bodies and partners from the private sector, with checks
carried out at shops, markets, airports, seaports and private
homes.
The UK’s Intellectual
Property Office is the designated lead for coordinating the UK’s response
to Opson and works closely with the UK Food Standards Agency.
One example of UK success took
place in Scotland, where a 40-foot lorry load of fake vodka was seized. The
load totalled 17,156 litres of counterfeit Glen’s vodka, involving duty
and VAT of £269,300.65. A number of seizures across the UK were
undertaken by trading standards enforcing consumer protection
legislation.
The key aims of Opson
are:
- the identification of the
organised criminal networks behind the trafficking
- development of practical
cooperation between the involved law enforcement, food and drug agencies and
private companies
- and to raise awareness of the
dangers posed by counterfeit and sub-standard foods
Notes to
editors
- Countries which took part in
Opson III: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Côte
d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, South
Korea, Sweden, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA and
Vietnam.
- Operation Opson III was
conducted throughout December 2013 and January 2014 and specifically targeted
the organised crime networks behind the illicit trade in counterfeit and
unregulated food and drink. It involved agencies, regulatory bodies and
partners from the private sector, with checks carried out at shops, markets,
airports, seaports and private homes