The Spanish and Portuguese authorities have dismantled the largest known network for the manufacturing and selling of counterfeit clothing and footwear in the country in a police operation that has also led to the arrest of 99 people.
Operation ‘Layca’, started in September 2012, has resulted in the seizure of more than one million fake ‘brand name’ items and the closure of ten illegal workshops in Portugal.
The network, of Moroccan origin, has produced and distributed 235 tons of counterfeit clothes and shoes during the past two years that would have generated revenues of around 5,500,000 euros.
The fake goods were manufactured in Portugal and then shipped to Xinzo de Limia in Galicia for regional distribution.
Monies were laundered through proxies, with numerous shell companies being set up. The network was present in almost all the Spanish provinces, but mainly focused its activities in major cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Marbella and Sevilla .
The 99 arrested are 34 Portuguese, 19 Moroccans, 37 Senegalese and 9 Spanish .