The first coordinated operation of the European Office for anti-fraud (OLAF), to which the police forces of various EU countries contributed, to combat counterfeiting, has proved wholly successful. The operation was organized by OLAF and by the General Directorate of fiscal questions and customs union of the European Commission from May 2005 onwards: the results were presented on Tuesday 8 November. The directors of the technical structure created by the Executive to combat fraud explained that “counterfeiting is constantly growing. It now represents from 5% to 9% of world trade and causes from 200 to 300 billion euros in lost profits throughout the world”. The public authorities have registered “a considerable loss of tax receipts, especially VAT and also customs duties, due to a submerged economy that is directly draining the EU’s own resources and that funds organized crime”. The counterfeit merchandise seized mainly in ports and airports, often of Chinese manufacture, includes 500 tons of commodities and “over two million objects that constitute a violation of intellectual property rights”: textile products, shoes, electronic equipment, cigarettes, batteries and even medicines.
