It was dismantled by the Economic Police Directorate of the Hellenic Police Headquarters, a criminal organization that was active in the importation and trafficking of counterfeit products in Greece, through websites and social media.

For the case, 7 members of the organization were arrested and a case file was filed against them for – as the case may be – the offenses of criminal organization, forgery, money laundering and trademark law violations.

As it emerged from the investigation, the criminal organization, since at least February 2020, has been selling counterfeit goods through websites and social media, while managing “front” companies to hide their activities. The money from the sales was credited to a courier company managed by the organization and then collected.

To achieve their goal, they advertised “brand name” clothing and footwear online at bargain prices with supposed discounts – deals of up to 90%.

The orders were sent to customers via a courier company, without tax documents being issued, and non-existent companies and social media profiles were listed as senders. To store the counterfeit products, they used warehouses in areas of Attica, while for their transport they used either the courier company’s vehicles or their personal ones.

The investigation revealed that the members of the organization used a website and at least 13 social media profiles, through which a total of over 364,000 consignments of goods were trafficked, the total value of which exceeds the sum of 18,429,000 euros.

The deconstruction of the criminal organization took place in the context of an organized police operation, which took place yesterday (21/2), in various areas of Attica, and after searches carried out in homes, courier companies, warehouses, accounting offices and vehicles, the following were found and seized: 3,603 imitation clothing and footwear, 335 parcels of goods, a car, 14 mobile phones, 11,837 euros, 4 bank cards and a bank account book and a number of vouchers, various documents and notes.

The seized digital evidence will be sent for laboratory tests to the Department of Criminal Investigations, while the amount of money will be deposited in the Deposit and Loan Fund. At the same time, the impounded vehicle will be sent to the Customs Procedures department and the impounded goods will be destroyed in a special waste bin.

The arrested persons, with the case filed against them, were taken to the competent prosecutor’s office.

It is reminded that citizens can contact, anonymously or by name, at the telephone number 11012 or at the email address [email protected] of the Financial Police Directorate, to provide information or to report illegal and indirect actions or activities against the sector of the economy, public property, as well as social and insurance welfare and rights.