160,000 euros worth of fake Apple products seized by Ireland's Gardai

DUBLIN, Ireland: Gardai have confiscated counterfeit Apple products valued at 160,000 euros following a coordinated operation in the west of Ireland.

The two-day operation, targeting Intellectual Property (IP) crime, involved searches across Castlebar, Westport, Ballinrobe, and Claremorris.

Led by the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Crime Unit, the effort was supported by multiple agencies, including the Garda National Immigration Bureau, Revenue Customs, and the Intellectual Property Crime Investigation Unit of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Teams from the Workplace Relations Commission and the Social Welfare Special Investigations Unit also contributed to the search.

Authorities raided several business premises and seized over 800 suspected counterfeit Apple items, pending further examination. The estimated revenue loss from the fake goods is approximately 160,000 euros.

While no arrests have been made so far, Gardai highlighted the broader implications of IP crime. "Intellectual property crime is estimated to cost the EU economy over 85 billion euros per year and can pose serious risks to public health, safety, and job security," a Garda spokesperson stated.