Brussels, 08/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - The major joint customs operation ERMIS carried out last March by the Greek Customs Administration, European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) with the assistance of customs experts from the Commission, member states, FYROM, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey led to over 70 000 counterfeit goods being seized.
The operation focused on postal and courier mail traffic, to identify fake products shipped in small consignments. In the course of the operation over 600 seizures were made. The goods varied in nature from mobile phones, sunglasses, and small vehicle spare parts, to medicines and pharmaceutical products. ERMIS found out that most goods came from the Far East.
Algirdas Semeta, Commissioner responsible for Customs and Anti-Fraud, stated: “Counterfeit products put our consumers at risk and our businesses at a disadvantage”. “The ERMIS Operation shows, once again, the major added-value of working together to combat common risks”, he highlighted. (EL)