The international Europol In-Our-Sites (IOS) VI operation seizes nearly 1000 websites selling counterfeit goods or breaking intellectual property laws.

Counterfeit goods included consumer electronics as well as clothing, pharmaceuticals, luxury goods and toiletries. The operation involved law enforcement agencies from Belgium, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, France, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain and the UK, with further support from 8 Interpol member countries (Argentina, Chile, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Panama, Peru, S. Korea and Thailand).

Europol organised and led the raids alongside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Investigations bodies. The European agency also worked with rights holders in the commercial sector, and expects to work on more cases due to "huge demand" from private industry rights holders.

"Cooperation with private industry remains crucial and is key to monitoring and reporting IP-infringing websites to the concerned countries via Europol, to ultimately make the Internet a safer place for consumers," Europol concludes.

Go Operation In-Our-Sites Takes Down 999 Websites Selling Counterfeit Goods