Joint operation ends with €10.5 million worth of goods seized

GUARDIA CIVIL officers in the Balearic Islands have seized around 86,000 fake articles, five kilos of cocaine and over a ton of out-of-date food.

Eleven people have been detained under suspicion of crimes against intellectual property and public health as well as drug trafficking.

Officers of the Guardia Civil and agents from the Inland Revenue Service have taken part in a joint operation, codenamed Muralla (wall), which has ended with the confiscation of goods worth over €10.5 million and a lot of drugs.

The operation began by watching the port in Palma de Mallorca where the officers knew the illicit items were being brought in for their subsequent sale on the beaches and streets of the island. From there they just simply followed the trail left by the traffickers and importers.

Six whole containers full of goods have been seized. They contained fake goods like clothes, sunglasses and headphones, as well as high end fakes of handbags and shoes.

All of the seized items were manufactured in China, Greece and Indonesia and all were destined for the European markets. Nine people have been detained in connection with these items.

As well as the fake goods, police also found five kilos of cocaine and another two people are currently detained in connection with this find.

All of the detained are currently being held on remand while investigations progress.