Mayo targeted in Europol and gardaí counterfeit probe

Operation Aphrodite is a Europe-wide operation, coordinated through Europol.

In this jurisdiction, An Garda Síochána undertook 14 individual investigations relating to sale of counterfeit and copyrighted goods during the course of the operation, with GNBCI co-ordinating investigation, where appropriate.

The investigations were undertaken in Dublin, Waterford, Tipperary, Mayo and Laois.

In total, 6,340 suspected counterfeit or copyrighted items/materials were seized by An Garda Síochána.

The nature of products seized included suspected counterfeit computer batteries and accessories, phone parts and accessories, various types of clothing including sportswear and footwear, and illicit set top boxes.

Investigation files are being prepared for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration, relating to suspected breaches of the provisions of Section 140 of the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 and Section 92 of the Trademarks Act 1996 (Counterfeiting).

The aforementioned investigations resulted, in particular, in the seizure of 4,000 illicit set top boxes in three particular searches undertaken in the midlands and Dublin.

Two of the searches targeted wholesale level distributers.

In the course of the operation, the input coordinated through GNBCI resulted in a total of 4,200 websites selling copyrighted materials across the European Union and beyond being identified.