Thousands of tonnes of fake and sub-standard food seized

4000 kg of counterfeit strawberries and 275,000 litres of drinks were only part of the haul of fake and sub-standard food seized in a recent INTERPOL and Europol operation.

Opson IV, a coordinated operation run by INTERPOL and Europol and involving 47 countries, uncovered thousands of tonnes of fake and sub-standard food and drink during December 2014 and January 2015.

The operation resulted in a number of arrests across the globe and investigations are continuing. Among the aims of the operation is to identify and disrupt the organised crime networks behind the trafficking in fake goods; enhance cooperation between the involved law enforcement and regulatory authorities; and to raise public awareness of the dangers posed by fake and sub-standard food and drink.

Involving police, customs, national food regulatory bodies and partners from the private sector, checks were carried out at shops, markets, airports, seaports and industrial estates.

"This year again, the results from Opson clearly reflect the threat that food fraud represents, as it affects all types of products and all regions of the world. Cooperation at national and international level is indispensable to disrupt the criminal gangs involved in this business," said Chris Vansteenkiste, head of Europol's Focal Point Copy who coordinated the activities in Europe.

Of the nearly 275,000 litres of drinks recovered across all regions, counterfeit alcohol was among the most seized product.

"Fake and sub-standard food and drink pose a real threat to health and safety. People are at serious risk and in some cases dying because of the greed of criminals whose sole concern is to make money," said Michael Ellis, head of INTERPOL's Trafficking in Illicit Goods and Counterfeiting unit which coordinated activities between the world police body's participating countries across the globe. "Through this operation, thousands of tonnes of potentially hazardous food and drink have been taken out of circulation."

Operation Opson IV - Some highlights (or should that be lowlights?)

France

French customs seized nearly 4000 kg of counterfeit strawberries at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport. In addition, some 10 kg of caviar were discovered in passenger luggage during targeted checks at the airport.

Italy

In Arezzo, Tuscany officers from the Carabinieri NAS discovered a fish processing facility selling previously frozen seafood as fresh. The seafood had been sprayed with a chemical containing citric acid, phosphate and hydrogen peroxide to disguise the fact that it was rotting.

More than 30 tonnes of seafood were seized at the site in addition to 1.6 tonnes of chemicals. After identifying links to a second company in Spain, cooperation between the Carabinieri and the Spanish Guardia Civil led to the interception of a consignment of another 15 tonnes of fish due for delivery to Italy.

In a second case, in Salerno in Southern Italy, Carabinieri detected a new modus operandi in relation to the production of fake mozzarella.

During a check at a cheese factory, officers found a large amount of curd originating from Eastern Europe in addition to other dairy products which were already past their expiration date, or were not being stored in compliance with regulations. The presence of chemicals including citric acid and sodium hypochlorite suggested the dairy products were being treated to give it the appearance of fresh mozzarella.

The mozzarella was then being smoked in the back of a van, with rubbish being burned as one of the heat sources.

United Kingdom

An illicit factory producing fake name-brand vodka was discovered by Derbyshire County Council Trading Standards team. Officers discovered more than 20,000 empty bottles ready for filling, hundreds of empty five-litre antifreeze containers which had been used to make the counterfeit alcohol, as well as a reverse osmosis unit used to remove the chemical's colour and smell.

A large quantity of fake bottle tops, hundreds of unauthorised boxes marked with the brand and used labels were also seized.

Belgium

Joint inspections by Belgian Customs and the Food Safety Agency at Antwerp and Zeebrugge harbours and Zaventem airport resulted in the seizure of food supplements allegedly derived from traditional Chinese medicines. Analysis of the product showed they contained high concentrations of mercury.

Hungary

An illegal slaughterhouse was shut down, where officials also seized cars which had been modified to incorporate hidden compartments to smuggle fake alcohol.

Spain

More than 2400 checks and inspections were carried out during Opson IV, resulting in the identification of a company selling coffee labelled as 100% Arabica which was actually a mix of different low-quality coffees. The three managers have been charged following the joint investigation by the Guardia Civil, Laboratories of the Ministry of Agriculture (MAGRAMA) and the National Agency for Consumers, Food safety and Nutrition (AECOSAN).

United States

The US Food and Drugs Administration focused efforts on dietary supplements sent by mail with inspections at Los Angeles Airport resulting in the seizure of illicit substances.

Thailand

Some 85 tonnes of illegally imported meat that had not been tested to ensure it complied with health and safety regulations were destroyed. The police also dismantled a criminal network producing fake whisky and seized nearly 20,000 litres of the counterfeit alcohol.

South Sudan

An unlicensed water bottling plant was shut down.

Egypt

Egyptian authorities seized 35 tonnes of fake butter and dismantled a factory producing fake tea.

Rwanda

Officers raided a shop selling fake beer where genuine bottles which had been previously collected were refilled for sale with a locally brewed product.

Countries which took part in Operation Opson IV: Austria, Belgium, Benin, Belarus, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burundi, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, South Korea, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, United Kingdom, USA and Vietnam