Nearly 15,000 counterfeit items seized in operation Motor Seguro
Officials from the Portuguese Food and Economic Safety Authority (Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica, ASAE) recently conducted several raids in northern and central Portugal targeting counterfeit truck parts. The actions were carried out under the name operation Motor Seguro in the cities of Vila Nova de Gaia, Leiria, and Lisbon. The Portuguese investigators were supported by experts from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), according to statements released by both agencies in June.
In total, the officials confiscated more than 14,600 counterfeit automotive parts. The seized goods included oil filters and fuel filters, air filters and cabin filters, bearings, valves, belt tensioners, and brake cylinders. The total value of the seized counterfeit goods is estimated at more than 600,000 euros.
Seized counterfeit goods apparently originated from Türkiye
According to OLAF, the seizures were linked to a counterfeiting operation manufacturing fake truck parts of several well-known truck brands in Türkiye (Turkey). The European investigators had provided relevant information, and based on this intelligence, the ASAE then launched its investigation in Portugal. The counterfeit goods that have now been seized carried the brands of well-known manufacturers and could have easily been mistaken for genuine products by both businesses and consumers.
Successful cooperation with OLAF and trademark owners
The Portuguese investigators were supported on site by both OLAF and representatives of the affected brands. The experts of the trademark owners assisted with the identification of the counterfeits.
OLAF Director-General Petr Klement stressed the significance of the case: “Counterfeit goods cause economic losses for companies and undermine consumer trust; in this case, they also posed a major risk to consumer safety.“ According to Klement, any of the confiscated truck parts could have caused serious problems for the vehicle in which they were installed and could potentially have led to traffic accidents.
Auto parts remain a target for counterfeiters
Counterfeit auto parts and spare parts remain a pressing issue, including fake parts relevant for vehicle safety. Some time ago, at the port of Marseille, French customs officials seized approximately 78,000 counterfeit auto parts over a period of just over a year. In 2024, e-commerce giant Amazon and the BMW Group also announced a success in the fight against counterfeit auto parts and accessories, taking civil legal action in Spain against several dealers of counterfeit products.
