Mexican authorities seize MXN$200 million in counterfeit products

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Mexico’s General Customs

conducted a seizure of more than 45 tonnes of counterfeit luxury items within the facilities of the Mexico City International Airport (AICM).

This is the first time that the Tax Administration Service (SAT) conducts an operation of this kind at the international airport, where it is usually drug and cash shipments that are seized by Mexican authorities.

“Through the SAT and SHCP (Ministry of Finance and Public Credit) , the Mexican government will not evade responsibility of pursuing these crimes. The presence of our new administrator Damaris Baglietto and our team of experts in organized crime and investigation have started to yield great results,” stated Ricardo Peralta Saucedo, General Customs administrator.

A large amount of clothes, sportswear, watches, jewelry, hand purses, and cell phone accessories, among other products, were found in the airport.

Some of the international brands affected were Lacoste, Nike, Adidas, Kitty, Vans, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Tous, Pop Sockets, Lilo & Stitch, Rolex, Calvin Klein, Bvlgari, and Casio .

According to the General Customs administration, the overall value of the counterfeit goods that were seized amounted to MXN$200 million in the black market , which represents a hard economic blow to the criminal activity.

Most counterfeit products, which usually come from China and other Asian countries, are seized through searches to small businesses and other security operations in neighborhoods such as Tepito, in Mexico City, and other informal markets, authorities claimed.

General Customs officials contacted legal representatives of the international brands so that they may file complaints before the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) for trademark violations.

Seizures of illicit drugs in the capital city airport have shown an increase in the past few months, leading to the arrest of more than 68 people, out of which 18 worked at the Customs Division of the SAT.