OPSON operation with food fraud

• 65 countries and 20 private partners, from 22 EU Member States (MS) and 43 non-EU countries, participated in Operation OPSON VI. This represents the largest number of participating countries, especially for non-EU countries, since the beginning of OPSON in 2011. 57 countries took part in OPSON V.

• In total, 13,407.60 tonnes, 26,336,305.3 liters and 11,118,832 units of either counterfeit or substandard food and beverages have been seized during the four-month operational phase of OPSON VI. The total value of these illicit goods amounts to 235,681,849.87 EUR.
• Participating countries reported more than 50,128 inspections and checks, and 13,711 persons arrested or investigated. They opened 6,282 administrative and criminal cases. Investigations started in the framework of OPSON VI led to the dismantling of seven organized crime groups, reported as such by the countries and involved in the production of illegal food, other goods smuggling and other criminal activities.
• In terms of product range, the levels of seizure within OPSON VI differ significantly compared with OPSON V. The highest quantity of seized products is alcohol whereas the first category of seized products in OPSON V was condiments (e.g., vegetable oil, spices, and sauces). Enforcement actions during OPSON VI led to the closure of at least 183 illegal alcohol factories and the seizures of production materials, ranging from special bottling machines to counterfeit excise stamps, caps, labels or bottle security rings. The second category of seized goods is meat with almost 5,146 tonnes removed from the markets.
• The reported infringements are, in most cases, related to deceiving consumers (27%, of which 1% are IPR violations), food safety (22%) and fiscal infringements (19%).

• Besides the seizures of food and beverages, the participating countries reported important seizures of tobacco, coca leaves (in Peru), pharmaceuticals and cannabis (in Djibouti) which were discovered in the course of OPSON VI.

From the Greek Police, I have this information:

The Greek Police participated in a joint operation against the illegal trafficking of counterfeid and degraded foods and beverages.

This is a joint operational action of Interpol and Europol, with the code name OPSON VI.

It took place from December 2016 to March 2017, with the participation of 61 countries.
In total 9,800 tonnes, over 24,6 million liters and 13 million pieces of counterfeit and degraded products were seized, valued at 230 million euros.

With the initiative of the Financial Police Department, at the operation contributed also the co-responsible authorities of our country.

The Greek Police handled 71 cases for which 82 persons were arrested and large quantities of food and beverages were seized.

The Greek Police actively participated in the joint operation, while with the initiative of the Financial Police Department others co-competent authorities of our country also contributed (Department of Financial Crime Investigation (ΣΔΟΕ), Uniform Department of Food Control (ΕΦΕT), Department of Customs Control and Customs Violations).

During the operation, Financial Police Department and the police of the country handled 71 cases for which 82 persons were arrested and seized:

· About 47,439 liters and 7,570 bottles of various alcoholic beverages and olive oil;

· 900,000 fresh eggs;

· 1,391 pounds of fresh meat;

· 750 pounds of clams (some sources declare that the fake fish in Greece is a large fact in many restaurants, my note);

· 160 pounds of eel, of the protected species Anguilla Anguilla and

· 1,794 beverage pieces.

Seized goods were sent to the appropriate services for further laboratory testing.

Greek Police refuse to communicate in English, so the translation is volunteer made by Ms. Athanasia Skreka. (Thank you!)

With a particular view from Border Police of Romania we have this numbers after a 2017 year of activity (information from Yearly Activity Evaluation Report):

• 53 economic crime;
• 1211 smuggling and custom fraud cases values at approx. 23 million euro;
• 253 individuals with fake or smuggling goods;
• 4,9 million cigarettes pack, 500 kilos of tobacco for confiscation from 38 traffic groups, and 163 persons;
• 7920 kilos of tobacco from a single Polish drive truck who presented transport documents for washing powder from Greece to Nederland, hidden in a specific method;
• 28.663 liters of alcohol;
• 8,8 kg of gold and silver jewelry;
• 914.000 euro and US dollar (182.000 US dollar only from a single Bulgarian citizen);
• 88.5 kilos of amber;
• 71.400 pieces of clothes article, 18.360 cosmetics, and perfumes, 6990 footwear, 1.224.070 other goods (like electronics, toys, electrics, phone accessories) all fake under a brand name.

Romania is an EU border country but in the most relative situations are involved people inside EU not from outside. This network can be so extended like in some countries everybody now a friend who can obtain a reasonable price for a counterfeit product. Let see now some numbers from a Romanian county (Brasov area in the middle of the country; thank you for information received from County Police – Economic Crime Investigation Service) also in the year 2017 :

• 300 fake articles under a brand name;
• 950 counterfeit car pieces;
• 38 food controls with no result to find something (so the national 28.663 liters of alcohol and 13,407.60 tonnes, 26,336,305.3 liters and 11,118,832 units from Europe did not affect this region).

Fake food, counterfeit products, smuggling phenomenon, is everywhere. Only you can stop this and keep that resources.