Belgium: Customs in Liège inspects 0.006 percent of consignments
Customs officers at Liège Airport, Belgium’s largest cargo hub, seized more than 25,000 counterfeit items last year. However, officials were only able to physically inspect 0.006% of all consignments, according to a recent report. “That is not enough, but we cannot do more,” said Kristian Vanderwaeren, head of the Belgian general administration of Customs and Excise. The background to this seems to be a sharp rise in imports. This is clearly evident in customs declarations: in 2024, Liège customs processed over 1.3 billion documents, or around 3.6 million per day – compared to fewer than 400 million in 2023. About 20% of goods purchased online outside the EU enter the bloc via Liège.
Netherlands: Showroom for counterfeit fashion uncovered
During a joint inspection by customs, the municipality of Nijmegen, and the Dutch Labor Inspectorate in early March, approximately 11,000 counterfeit trademark goods were seized in a commercial area in Nijmegen. Officials found a fully furnished showroom stocked with counterfeit luxury fashion items, as well as a shipping container holding dozens of boxes of counterfeit goods. In addition to counterfeit clothing, shoes, and accessories – including items from brands such as Dior, Prada, and Louis Vuitton – narcotics were also seized in a nearby apartment. The case is now being further investigated by FIOD investigators.
Bavaria: Customs seize tonnes of counterfeit brand-name goods
When inspecting a truck from Türkiye, investigators from the Garching-Hochbrück Customs Office seized large quantities of counterfeit bedding. A significant part of the shipment, which weighed more than 15 tonnes, infringed on the rights of 47 well‑known brands, as the authorities reported in late February. The bedding featured designs from soccer clubs as well as children’s TV shows and movies. Nearly all of the brand owners consulted by the officials confirmed that the items were counterfeit. In addition, some of the other goods were held due to a lack of textile labeling. “This seizure underscores the importance of consistent monitoring of international trade,” explained Thomas Meister, press spokesperson for the Munich Main Customs Office.
🔎 Bei der Überprüfung eines LKW mit einer Ladung von über 15 t Bettwäsche aus der Türkei stellten Einsatzkräfte des Münchener Zolls fest, dass ein Großteil der Sendung gegen die Rechte von 47 bekannten Marken verstößt.https://t.co/HdBVxo0rex pic.twitter.com/ICYQ5oiZ4f
— Der Zoll (@zoll_info) February 24, 2026
Baden-Württemberg: Customs seize thousands of grey market electronics
Officials at the Donautal Customs Office seized a shipment from China with over 2,100 JBL headphones and speakers that were intended for import into the EU without the brand owner’s consent. As the Ulm Main Customs Office disclosed in mid‑March, the shipment had been stopped in February after officials noticed discrepancies in the supply chain. The goods, approximately 750 headphones and 1,400 speakers, were bound for a tech distributor in the Augsburg district. The brand owner’s representative confirmed that the products were genuine but had been imported into the EU without the owner’s consent. While such parallel imports (often referred to as grey market goods) are not counterfeits, their import into the EU is unlawful. According to the authorities, it is not yet clear whether the goods will be destroyed or re‑exported.
🔎 Einsatzkräfte eines Zollamts fielen Unstimmigkeiten in der Lieferkette von Kopfhörern und Lautsprechern auf.
Der Verdacht auf Markenfälschung bestätigte sich nicht, jedoch teilte der Rechteinhaber mit, dass ein nicht genehmigter Parallelimport vorlag.https://t.co/SXwn98HY4E pic.twitter.com/BHBBHxu89X
— Der Zoll (@zoll_info) March 16, 2026
Europol: Medicines worth 33 million euros seized
As part of Operation SHIELD VI, authorities from 30 countries seized counterfeit and misused medicines, as well as illegal doping substances and dietary supplements, worth approximately 33 million euros, between April and November 2025. Among other activities, authorities initiated over 900 investigations, investigated 43 criminal organizations, and conducted over 4,100 inspections. The operation was coordinated by Europol, with support from, among others, the European Anti‑Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), INTERPOL, and the World Anti‑Doping Agency (WADA).
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