Lisbon, June 5, 2025 (Lusa) - The Food and Economic Safety Authority (ASAE) seized 52,000 counterfeit items worth approximately €500,000 in an operation that resulted in 70 criminal proceedings, it announced on Thursday.

In a statement, ASAE reported that the counterfeit items included clothing, footwear, jewellery, leather goods, labels, lighters, glasses and sports items, and that "all products bore prestigious brands of national and international recognition".

The operation, named Authenticum, took place over the last two weeks to mark World Anti-Counterfeiting Day and covered the entire mainland.

According to ASAE, the aim was "the effective suppression of illegal practices of criminal relevance, particularly those related to counterfeiting, imitation or illegitimate use of trademarks, as well as the sale or concealment of products".

The authority, under the Ministry of Economy, explained that all the facts "were reported to the competent judicial authority" and that the suspects were charged and subject to identity and residence checks.

"Counterfeiting is often a predicate offence for money laundering and is associated with illegal practices such as tax evasion, labour, environmental and customs offences, and is often exploited by organised crime networks," ASAE said in the document, pointing out that these activities undermine fair competition between economic operators.

JO/ADB // ADB.

Lusa