Operation Pinar

In November 2016, Europol supported the Spanish authorities to dismantle an international criminal organization involved in Intellectual Property Crime and money laundering. In total, almost 265.000 products infringing intellectual property rights - textiles, footwear, watches, sunglasses, leather goods, jewelry and more - were seized, with an estimated black market value of EUR 8 million. The criminal group also used a sophisticated network of fictitious companies and front men to launder the proceeds of their criminal activities, which are thought to have exceeded EUR 9 million.