Malta Customs excel in EU-wide Operation Fake

The Customs Department in Malta made a record number of seizures of counterfeit goods in an exercise called Operation Fake conducted in all European Union countries between May 17 and 27, it was announced yesterday.

The exercise was coordinated by the European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) and the Directorate General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD).

Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech said Malta and Italy both busted 13 containers each. Malta had actually intercepted another container about which the Italian Customs were alerted and, had the Maltese Customs intercepted this, Malta would have topped the list. Out of 25 member states, only nine countries seized containers with counterfeit goods and most of those that found containers discovered between two and five containers.

The 13 containers discovered in Malta all came from China and were destined for Morocco and Algeria and contained sports shoes, sandals and hairdryers.

Efforts to combat counterfeits at European level are being stepped up, both to protect consumers, who often pay high prices for counterfeit goods of inferior quality, and to protect European industry.

Mr Fenech said counterfeiters evade VAT and excise duties and it was estimated that up to nine per cent of international commerce is made up of counterfeit goods.

Over 126 consignments were seized throughout the EU in the 10 days of Operation Fake.

According to the document prepared by OLAF and DG TAXUD, items seized ranged from Viagra pills to batteries, light bulbs and cigarettes.

Customs director general John Mifsud said the EU was sending a delegation to have talks with Thailand's Customs about counterfeits and a member of the Maltese Customs Department will be one of two officials on counterfeits the EU will be taking along.

"This is a big feather in our cap and proves that the EU is recognising our efforts," he said.

Asked about whether the number of seizures cast a bad light on the local ports, Mr Fenech said that, on the contrary, the finds send a signal that not anything goes in our ports.

"I am sure the Maltese Customs did not detect all counterfeit objects passing via Malta. They are not checking every container but track those whose documentation is suspect.

"Such activity happens in every transhipment centre and the signal we are sending is that we are trying to intercept illicit goods," Mr Fenech said.