Brussels, 07/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - The joint international customs operation, REPLICA, has successfully seized more than 1.2 million counterfeit products and 130 million contraband cigarettes, according to an announcement made by the European Commission in a press release on Monday 6 October. The operation targeted imports of counterfeit products by sea and helped prevent losses of €25 million in custom duties and taxes from the seizure of cigarettes alone. Several hundred containers were subject to controls. These revealed the presence of a wide range of counterfeit products: perfumes, spare car parts, bicycles, toys, fashion accessories and electronic equipment. REPLICA was organised as part of the Asia-Europe initiative. During the operational phase of REPLICA, OLAF promoted cooperation between EU states, Norway, Switzerland and 11 international partners: Australia, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, the Russian Federation and Thailand. (EL)