The Economic Police Department of the Headquarters of the Hellenic Socialist Party dismantled a criminal organization that imported and sold counterfeit branded goods into Greece through websites and social networks.

In this case, 7 members of the organization were arrested, and a criminal case was initiated against them for the crimes of a criminal organization, forgery of documents, money laundering and violation of trademark law.

How the scheme worked

As it turned out during the investigation, since February 2020, the criminal organization has been selling counterfeit products through websites and social networks, and to hide their activities, the participants operate “front” companies.

The money from the sales was credited to the courier company operated by the organization and then collected. To achieve their goal, they advertised on the Internet the so-called branded clothes and shoes at bargain prices with supposed discounts and deals up to 90%.

Orders were sent to customers through a courier company, without tax documentation, and non-existent companies and social media profiles were listed as senders. To store counterfeit products, they used warehouses in the regions of Attica, and for their transportation they used either the vehicles of a courier company or their own.

The investigation found that members of the organization used the website and at least 13 social media profiles through which over 364,000 consignments were sold in total, with a total value of more than 18,429,000 euros.

The liquidation of the criminal organization took place as part of an organized police operation that took place on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, in various areas of Attica, and after searches conducted in houses, courier companies, warehouses, accounting departments and vehicles, the following were found and seized:

• 3,603 imitations of clothing and footwear
• 335 parcels of goods,
• car,
• 14 mobile phones,
• 11 837 euros,
• 4 bank cards and bankbook and
• number of vouchers, various documents and notes.

The seized digital evidence will be sent for laboratory research to the Criminal Investigation Department, and the amount of money will be deposited in the Deposit and Loan Fund. In this case, the confiscated car will be sent to the Customs Procedures Administration, and the confiscated goods will be destroyed in a special trash can.

The detainees, against whom a criminal case has been initiated, have been brought to the competent prosecutor’s office.

We remind you that citizens can contact anonymously or by name at 11012 or email address. [email protected] Economic Police Departments, provide information or report illegal and obstructive actions or actions in relation to the economic sector, state property, as well as social and insurance security and rights.