A sample of counterfeit Apple products seized in the raid – image source: An Garda Sachna
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Reports of counterfeit products in County Mayo in western Ireland have led to that local police have seized more than 800 counterfeit devices, including AirPods, from businesses in the area.
The counterfeits seized are valued at $173,904, according to local radio station Newstalk. In addition to the AirPods, they included a variety of iPhone accessories.
The counterfeits were seized on Thursday and Friday, October 17 and 18, 2024. Police raided businesses in Castlebar, Westport, Ballinrobe and Claremorris.
It was a multi-agency operation focused on the Garda Local Crime Unit, which covers counties Mayo, Roscommon and Longford. The Garda National Immigration Bureau, the National Criminal Revenue Bureau, the Workplace Relations Commission and the Social Security Special Investigation Unit were also involved in the investigation.
A police spokesman estimated that overall, intellectual property crimes such as counterfeit goods cost the EU economy more than €85 billion ($92.4 billion) a year.
No arrests have been made so far, but police investigations are ongoing.
The Irish case follows another in May 2024, when raids in Northern Ireland seized similar counterfeit goods worth $750,000.
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