https://www.europol.europa.eu/content/record-seizures-fake-food-and-drink-interpol-europol-operation
Record seizures of fake food and drink in INTERPOL-Europol operation
16 February 2015
Thousands of tonnes of fake and sub-standard food and drink have been
seized in 47 countries around the world as part of an INTERPOL-Europol
coordinated operation.
Operation Opson IV, conducted during December 2014 and January 2015,
resulted in the seizure of more than 2,500 tonnes of counterfeit and
illicit food, including mozzarella, strawberries, eggs, cooking oil
and dried fruit.
Involving police, customs, national food regulatory bodies and
partners from the private sector, checks were carried out at shops,
markets, airports, seaports and industrial estates.
"This year again, the results from Opson clearly reflect the threat
that food fraud represents, as it affects all types of products and
all regions of the world. Cooperation at national and international
level is indispensable to disrupt the criminal gangs involved in this
business," said Chris Vansteenkiste, head of Europol's Focal Point
Copy who coordinated the activities in Europe.
Italian officials seized 31 tonnes of seafood being sold as fresh but
which had been frozen before being doused with a chemical substance
containing citric acid, phosphate and hydrogen peroxide to make the
catch appear freshly caught. In South Sudan an unlicensed water
bottling plant was shut down, and Egyptian authorities seized 35
tonnes of fake butter and dismantled a factory producing fake tea.
Of the nearly 275,000 litres of drinks recovered across all regions,
counterfeit alcohol was among the most seized product, including in
the UK, where a plant making fake brand-name vodka was raided.
Officers discovered more than 20,000 empty bottles ready for filling,
hundreds of empty five-litre antifreeze containers which had been used
to make the counterfeit alcohol, as well as a reverse osmosis unit
used to remove the chemical's colour and smell.
In Uganda, police seized bottles of fake whisky, and in Rwanda
officers raided a shop selling fake beer where genuine bottles which
had been previously collected were re-filled for sale with a locally
brewed product.
"Fake and sub-standard food and drink pose a real threat to health and
safety. People are at serious risk and in some cases dying because of
the greed of criminals whose sole concern is to make money," said
Michael Ellis, head of INTERPOL's Trafficking in Illicit Goods and
Counterfeiting unit which coordinated activities between the world
police body's participating countries across the globe. "Through this
operation, thousands of tonnes of potentially hazardous food and drink
have been taken out of circulation."
An illegal slaughterhouse was shut down in Hungary, where officials
also seized cars which had been modified to incorporate hidden
compartments to smuggle fake alcohol. An investigation is ongoing in
Norway following the seizure of counterfeit water bottles. The US Food
and Drugs Administration focused efforts on dietary supplements sent
by mail with inspections at Los Angeles Airport resulting in the
seizure of illicit substances.
Some 85 tonnes of meat illegally imported into Thailand without
testing to ensure they complied with health and safety regulations
were destroyed, and police also dismantled a criminal network
producing fake whisky and seized nearly 20,000 litres of the
counterfeit alcohol.
Authorities in Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay focused
their efforts at border control points. In addition to attempting to
evade paying duties, goods are often transported, packaged or stored
in conditions which may pose health risks to consumers.
Operation Opson IV resulted in a number of arrests across the globe
and investigations are continuing. Among the aims of the operation is
to identify and disrupt the organized crime networks behind the
trafficking in fake goods; enhance cooperation between the involved
law enforcement and regulatory authorities; and to raise public
awareness of the dangers posed by fake and sub-standard food and
drink.
Countries which took part in Operation Opson IV: Austria, Belgium,
Benin, Belarus, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burundi, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia,
Finland, France, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, South Korea, South Sudan,
Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay,
United Kingdom, USA and Vietnam.
Operation Opson IV - Case Stories
Received on Tue Feb 17 2015 - 21:26:27 EST