Europol, OLAF, DG SANTE and 31 countries across Europe and beyond, together with food and beverage producers from the private sector, joined forces in the fourteenth edition of Operation OPSON. This yearly effort targets the criminals behind counterfeit and substandard food and beverages. Law enforcement, customs and food regulatory agencies seized 259 012 packages, 1 416 168 litres of beverages and 11 566 958 kilograms of food, including meat and seafood.
Overall, Operation OPSON XIV saw:
- 631 individuals reported to judicial authorities;
- 101 arrest warrants issued;
- 13 organised crime groups disrupted;
- goods worth around EUR 95 million seized;
- 31 165 checks and inspections performed.
A major activity frequently disrupted during OPSON XIV was the infiltration of waste disposal companies by organized crime groups to access expired food. Criminals removed original expiration dates and reprinted falsified ones, reintroducing expired and unsafe products, such as canned fish, into the supply chain.
Other common food fraud included the circulation of counterfeit products and the misuse of protected geographical indications, especially affecting olive oil and wine.
Authorities also uncovered meat and seafood that was sold despite poor storage or unhygienic slaughter conditions.
Highlighted investigations from OPSON XIV include:
- In Italy, seven individuals were arrested for illegally slaughtering pharmaceutical-treated horses. A clandestine slaughter site and truck with illegal meat were seized.
- In Portugal, an illegal slaughter operation lacking sanitary standards was dismantled. A suspect was arrested, and 33 slaughtered animals and 200 kg of offal were seized.
- In Spain, a cross-border operation exposed a network trafficking contaminated clams illegally harvested from the River Tajo, resulting in 11 arrests. The clams were distributed across Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy, generating up to €2.5 million weekly.
- Also in Spain, a company falsely labeled Madeira bananas as Canary Islands bananas, violating protected designation rules. About 2,000 tons were fraudulently marketed.
- In Georgia, two individuals were detained for smuggling undeclared alcohol, tobacco, and other goods using false customs documents. Seized items were valued at over €73,000.
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