Counterfeit sports clothing seized in Bulgaria
Large quantities of counterfeit sports goods bearing top brand names were seized in Blagoevgrad and Gabrovo, Bulgaria's Interior Ministry press centre said on November 19 2010.
The confiscations were carried out by officers from the Chief Directorate for Combating Organised Crime's computer crime and intellectual property squad, assisted by local police.
The ministry said that the operation was aimed against the illegal production, storage and distribution of fake sports items.
The operation in Blagoevgrad followed an investigation prompted by a tip-off about a factory that previously had a contract with Levi Strauss and Co, and although the contract had expired, continued to produce goods illegitimately.
The ministry said that the finished work had been stored in a warehouse and sold on the internet.
More than 15 000 items were seized, including shirts, blouses and other clothing bearing Levi Strauss, H &
M and other well-known labels.
The police operation in Gabrovo followed a tip-off about illicit production of Puma sports goods, allegedly also after production continued in spite of the expiry of a contract. Footwear and production materials were confiscated in the police operation.
The Interior Ministry said that pre-trial proceedings had started in both cases.