Network trafficking 200,000 counterfeit condoms across Europe dismantled
The European Anti-Fraud Office has identified a ring that was distributing counterfeit condoms from China to European countries, posing a threat to public health.
Network trafficking 200,000 counterfeit condoms across Europe dismantled
More than 200,000 condoms, which had been shipped from China under false declaration as toys, were seized in operations in Romania, Serbia and Spain, revealing an extensive illegal trafficking network for products that met no health standards whatsoever.
According to information from in.gr, the items in question had been imported into the European Union without undergoing the necessary checks required for medical devices. In the EU, condoms are subject to strict testing for microbial contamination, biocompatibility, leak resistance and shelf life — specifications that the seized products had not passed.
The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) identified the exporter in cooperation with Chinese authorities, but did not disclose the exporter's identity to the public. The counterfeit items were distributed under the name and logo of a well-known brand, with their total value exceeding 200,000 euros.
OLAF head Peter Clement warned that the products in question are dangerous, as they have not been tested or certified for safety. The office did not clarify how many of these had already reached consumers' hands, noting that the nature of illegal networks makes accurate calculation difficult.
Counterfeit condoms carry risks of transmission of sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and exposure to harmful chemical substances, as they completely bypass the European Union's quality requirements.
Source: In.gr