06/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - With the support of Europol, the Italian police at the end of December supervised the dismantling of a major criminal network involved in the mass production and distribution of counterfeit clothes from Italy and Turkey. The clothing was distributed through the whole of Europe via Chinese, Turkish and Italian criminal networks. A total of 16 illegal factories were discovered in Italy, 12 people were arrested in Italy and France and 3 million counterfeit products of a total value of €150 million were seized in Italy, Germany and France. The evidence gathered made it possible to establish links with other criminal groups based in Belarus, Canada, Israel, Mauritius and San Marino. The operation was made possible by the joint efforts of the police and justice systems of a dozen countries working together with Europol, Eurojust and Interpol. (B.C./transl.fl)