EU nets major haul of Asian counterfeits

(BRUSSELS) - EU customs officials intercepted millions of fake cigarettes and products ranging from toys to watches as part of an international crackdown on Asian counterfeits, the European Commission said Monday.

About 135 million counterfeit cigarettes and over 550,000 other goods were seized in February as part of the operation codenamed Diabolo, targeting container shipments originating from 16 Asian ports.

Customs agents seized the equivalent of 20 containers of cigarettes and goods such as textiles, furniture, suitcases, mobile phone accessories, shoes, electronics, toys, sunglasses, football equipment and even undeclared poultry meat.

"Diabolo marks a new milestone in fighting international customs fraud," EU Anti-fraud Commissioner Siim Kallas told journalists, adding that it was the first time EU and Asian customs agencies worked so closely together.

"With world trade developing fast, we must make sure that internationally agreed rules are respected," Kallas said, declaring the operation a "clear success."

Over 300 EU customs officers relied on support from international police services Interpol and Europol as well as the World Customs Organization to zero in on shipments of counterfeits in normal, legitimate trade flows from Asia.

The operation was carried out on agreement within the Asia-Europe Meeting, an informal grouping of the 27 EU members and Brunei, Myanmar, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The ports targeted in the operation were not identified.

International customs operation 'Diabolo' - questions and answers