The Guardia Civil has seized a significant quantity of suspected counterfeit goods in an operation carried out on the island of Gran Canaria, estimated to be worth over €180,000 on the open market.
The operation, led by the Fiscal Patrol Unit of Vecindario (PAFIF), also uncovered logos intended to disguise fake products as genuine items for commercial sale.
According to an official press release issued on Thursday, the operation took place in March and revealed what the Guardia Civil described as “a high level of perfection and quality” in the presentation of the counterfeit products.
The investigation forms part of a wider initiative focused on regulating the distribution of nicotine devices and combating fraud to ensure consumer safety across the European market.
During inspections, authorities identified a range of counterfeit sportswear on sale to the public, including football kits bearing the colours and emblems of prominent national clubs. The items, which included shirts, shorts, and accessories, were not being distributed through official retail outlets and showed subtle discrepancies from the authentic versions.
Further inquiries led agents to a distribution warehouse, where handbags and other fashion items bearing logos of major international brands were also on display. These products were allegedly being marketed as genuine designer items, despite being counterfeit.
The Guardia Civil highlighted a technique known as "garment laundering," in which generic or low-value clothing is modified with industrially produced logos to create the appearance of branded merchandise. These garments are then sold as high-end goods or used for personal use under false pretences.
Authorities have reminded the public that all logos and branding of well-known labels are protected under industrial and intellectual property laws, and their use without explicit permission from the respective companies constitutes a legal offence.
Investigations are ongoing, and further legal action may follow depending on the outcome of the forensic analysis of the seized goods and business operations involved.
