The Tax Agency has intervened 2,000 counterfeit T-shirts from the 2026 World Cup teams and dismantled a factory in Getafe with machinery valued at €300,000. The operations took place in June with the support of OLAF.
The Tax Agency has dealt a blow to sportswear counterfeiting by seizing 2,000 T-shirts from teams participating in the 2026 World Cup and dismantling an illegal factory in the Community of Madrid. The operations, carried out in June with the collaboration of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), also resulted in the confiscation of machinery valued at around €300,000.
Two Operations in Humanes and Getafe
The first operation took place on June 19 in a logistics warehouse located in Humanes (Madrid). There, customs surveillance officials seized approximately 2,000 counterfeit T-shirts from World Cup teams, ready for distribution.
The second operation occurred on June 1 in a warehouse in Getafe (Madrid). Agents located six machines for printing on textile garments and another six for ironing, confirming that the premises operated as a factory for on-demand counterfeit products.
In total, 1,200 additional garments with designs and logos that violated the intellectual and industrial property rights of recognized brands were seized.
A Novelty in the Modus Operandi: Manufacturing on Demand
According to the Ministry of Finance, this case introduces a novelty in the 'modus operandi' of these organizations. Manufacturing on demand within national territory represents a shift from the usual practice of importing already counterfeited goods from Asia or finalizing the counterfeiting in community territory without a production scheme based on orders.
The factory's location in community territory and the method employed allowed for the evasion of customs controls and ensured the sale and distribution of counterfeit products without the need to maintain stock. The production capacity of the seized machinery reached at least 800,000 garments annually.
Consequences for Consumers and the Market
For buyers, purchasing a counterfeit T-shirt not only poses a quality risk but also fuels an illegal economy that evades taxes and harms official brands. Furthermore, these garments do not meet safety standards and may contain harmful materials.
Authorities remind that counterfeiting is a crime pursued by law and that consumers can report the sale of suspicious products. Operations remain open to identify those responsible and dismantle possible ramifications of the network.
The Tax Agency recommends purchasing official products from authorized establishments and being wary of excessively cheap offers, especially in the lead-up to major sporting events like the 2026 World Cup.
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