As part of an operation carried out jointly by the Guardia di Finanza and the Customs Office of Salerno, in the last few days, over 110.000 perfumes have been seized, suspected of violating the intellectual property rights of well-known fashion brands as they have a shape, signs and design similar to the originals.
The activity arises from the careful risk analysis carried out by the Guardia di Finanza of the Salerno Group and the local Customs and Monopolies Agency on the commercial documentation of goods imported from non-EU countries and destined for the commercial port of Salerno.
This preliminary phase allowed us to identify, over the course of a few weeks, three different containers, coming from India and destined for a distribution company in the Naples area, containing perfumes and beauty products.
During the inspection phase and following discussions with the legitimate owners of the intellectual property rights, the financial police and customs officials found the presence, in the three shipments, of various perfumes reproducing, in design and shape, well-known and characteristic products of important brands belonging, among others, to the fashion houses Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce&Gabbana, Carolina Herrera and Paco Rabanne.
The same types of counterfeit products were then found, during the judicial police activities, also inside the company's warehouse located in Palma Campania (NA), part of previous imports and already ready for distribution throughout the European Union.
Following the large seizure, the person responsible for the company involved was reported to the Judicial Authority of Nola for importing and trading in products bearing counterfeit brands, likely to mislead the average consumer.
It is understood, however, that the criminal liability of the person involved will be declared only at the end of the relevant legal proceedings and only in the presence of a final conviction.
The intervention, which allowed a significant quantity of counterfeit goods to be withdrawn from the market, demonstrates the consolidated synergy, also highlighted by the recent memorandum of understanding, between the Customs and Monopolies Agency and the Guardia di Finanza.
Administrations that, although with different competences, are historically supported in customs areas in an incessant and common commitment that is aimed not only at the protection of the financial interests of the State, but also at the repression of deceptive commercial conduct, dangerous phenomena distorting competition, concerning, in particular, the sale of counterfeit goods, for the protection of the so-called "Industrial Rights" and the correct functioning of the market.
Article published on 22 December 2023 - 10:59
