Europol closed over 1k accounts after targeting illegal online marketplace

In the largest European law enforcement operation ever, Operation Aphrodite - which involved cooperation from Ireland - led to 100 suspects being prosecuted

EUROPOL have seized more than 20,000 packages and closed over 1,000 accounts after targeting illegal online marketplace selling counterfeit goods and pirated content.

In the largest European law enforcement operation ever, Operation Aphrodite – which involved cooperation from Ireland – led to 100 suspects being prosecuted.

Investigators have also warned that they will continue to target intellectual property crime online.

A Europol spokesman said: “Joint investigations by Europol’s Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition (IPC³), the Italian Guardia di Finanza and law enforcement authorities from nine EU Member States, have seized more than 20,000 packages and closed over 1,000 accounts.

“On offer were sports articles, medicines, mobile phones, bags, jewellery, sunglasses, clothing, watches, perfumes and cosmetics, illegal IPTV set-top-boxes and online piracy over different social media platforms.

“Operation Aphrodite, run with the cooperation of Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom, led the preliminary investigation of more than 250 people selling counterfeit goods and pirated content, prosecuting more than 100 suspects, while numerous investigations are still ongoing.”

They added: “The internet continues to be a major facilitator of intellectual property crime as it utilises new and emerging platforms, such as social media, that have made it easier to post and share offerings for counterfeit goods and pirated content to an expanding audience.

“Europol will examine the scale of the problem, gather evidence and monitor social media and sales platforms.

“The exponential growth of internet platforms has also affected the development of online marketplaces or e-stores that can be considered alternative channels to retailing.

“These new markets also take advantage of social channels to perpetrate illicit activities.

“Consumers need to be informed of the use of social media as these platforms are used by criminal networks.”