In a major operation carried out by the Civil Guard, 13,080 counterfeit products were seized in several towns in the province of Alicante, including popular tourist destinations such as Torrevieja, Benidorm, La Cala de Villajoyosa, Denia, Calpe and Crevillent. The total value of the confiscated goods on the legal market is estimated at more than one million euros. As part of this operation, 25 people were investigated for crimes against industrial property.
The operation, called "Operation Summer 2024", took place from July to September and was aimed at stopping the spread of counterfeit goods during the peak tourist season and in connection with the increased demand for paraphernalia caused by major sporting events such as Euro 2024, the Copa America and the Olympic Games in Paris. Among the seized goods were football uniforms, leather goods, lighters and other products of famous brands. Operations in tourist areas From July to August, the Patrol des Financiers et Frontiers (PAFIF) of Calpe, together with the fiscal units of Denia and the Civil Security Forces, intensified controls in popular markets and tourist hotspots. In Benidorm, La Cala de Villajoyosa and Denia, they carried out checks at the weekly markets, where 13 shops were closed. In Calpe and Torrevieja, they controlled access to the beaches and promenades, preventing the illegal sale of counterfeit goods. Particular attention was paid to Torrevieja, where the Civil Guard seized more than 350 counterfeit goods, including sports equipment, bags and sunglasses. As a result of the checks on the promenade, three men aged between 35 and 56 were put under investigation on suspicion of violating industrial property laws. In parallel, three shops were checked in Benidorm in the northern part of the province of Alicante, and 7,535 counterfeit goods, including sportswear and leather goods, were seized from a market in Calpe. A total of 20 people aged between 26 and 56 were detained as a result of the operation.
In Crevillent, the Civil Guard, together with local police, confiscated 6,288 counterfeit goods from two shops and detained two men aged 49 and 54.
Results of the operation As a result of the operation, 13,080 counterfeit goods were seized from illegal circulation, including 3,713 sports kits and 3,822 leather and textile products, as well as more than 6,200 counterfeit lighters. The total value of the confiscated goods exceeds one million euros. The losses from illegal counterfeit trade in lost profits and unpaid taxes cause serious harm to legitimate entrepreneurs and independent workers who comply with tax obligations. The 25 suspects include people of different ages and nationalities, including citizens of Pakistan, India, Spain, Senegal, Morocco, and two people from China. All are suspected of violating industrial property protection laws.