British tourists scam warning issued as £20m worth of goods seized
58,000 fake and counterfeit items were confiscated.
British tourists set to holiday in Tenerife have warned of a fake goods scam after £19m worth of goods were seized in a raid.
The Guardia Civil has confiscated 58,000 fake and counterfeit items valued at €22m in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Clothing, handbags, wallets, belts, footwear, sunglasses, perfumes, toys were just some of the items seized.
A video uploaded by the force shows officers going into shops rounding up and confiscating fake goods. In one section of the clip a sea of counterfeit handbags lined the floor.
In a tweet the Guardia Civil said: "OperationsGC. 58,000 counterfeit items valued at €22 million seized in Tenerife.
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"84 people investigated for crimes against industrial property. 80 businesses located in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro inspected."
As part of Operation “IMITA,” which began in January, 84 people are being investigated for industrial property crimes, and a total of 80 shops across Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro were inspected, according to a statement from the Guardia Civil released on Sunday.
The operation sees the Guardia Civil surveilling various commercial establishments throughout the western islands.
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Results of the operation:
First Phase:
24,500 counterfeit items were seized
39 people were identified and investigated.
Numerous shops were inspected.
Second Phase:
Over 33,500 high-end branded counterfeit items were seized, valued at nearly 16 million euros.
45 people were investigated.
39 shops and four vans dedicated to selling counterfeit high-end branded items were inspected.
