Customs at Düsseldorf Airport has seized almost 3,100 counterfeit football shirts and other fake branded goods in two air cargo shipments from China, with the items set to be destroyed after trademark holders confirmed they were counterfeit. The Hauptzollamt Düsseldorf intercepted the consignments at the airport’s cargo gateway, underlining the scale of trademark piracy moving through the site.
The first shipment was discovered on 10 August and also contained 20 pairs of shoes, 360 cables and chargers and more than 300 smartphone back covers. It was routed via South Korea, Turkey and Germany before its intended delivery to the Netherlands. A second shipment, found on 2 September, contained about 2,000 counterfeit handbags and was due to travel via Kazakhstan, Turkey, Germany and Belgium on its way to Spain.
Customs contacted the relevant rights holders in both cases, who confirmed the goods were counterfeit. After the procedures are completed, the seized items will be destroyed.