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Counterfeiting factories dismantled and 23,000 items seized in the North of the country

The GNR dismantled two counterfeiting factories, which over the past years have earned 1.3 million euros, and seized 23 thousand counterfeit items of reputable brands, in the districts of Porto and Braga, announced the corporation



In a statement, the GNR explains that the operation, during which three defendants were constituted, resulted from an investigation that ran for about two years and targeted crimes of qualified tax fraud, counterfeiting, imitation and illegal use of brand, sale or concealment of products and laundering.

In operation "RÉPLICA" 19 search warrants were served - five at home and one at a bank vault, nine in vehicles, one warrant at an accounting firm and three at warehouses.

During the searches were seized 2,498 pairs of counterfeit shoes, 17,438 logos and appliqués of reputable brands, 3,426 footwear components, five prepaid bank cards, 880 euros in cash, five cell phones, three cars, a motorhome and a motorcycle with high cylinder capacity, as well as several "digital and documentary evidence.

The investigation was conducted by the Tax Action Unit (UAF), through the Tax Action Detachment (DAF) of Faro, in coordination with the Economic-Financial Section of the Department of Investigation and Prosecution (DIAP) of Paredes, says the note.

The GNR also adds that during the investigation, the DAF military Faro found that the defendants of the process, between the years 2016 and 2022, hid illicit income in the order of 1.1 million euros.

The value of the seized counterfeit items and parts associated with their manufacture amounts to 218,913 euros, estimating a fraud to the Portuguese State, in terms of Value Added Tax (VAT), of approximately 50,350 euros in these items.

The sites visited by the authorities were used as establishments for production, packaging, storage and shipment of counterfeit footwear, says the statement.

In this operation were constituted defendants two men and a woman, aged between 40 and 49 years, and a footwear manufacturing company.

The facts were reported to the Judicial Court of Paredes. The operation was reinforced by the DAF of Porto and the Territorial Command of Braga and with the support of the Tax and Customs Authority (AT).

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