Officers of the Customs and Tax Service from the Lower Silesian Customs and Tax Office in Wrocław conducted inspections at 16 marketplaces in Lower Silesia. These included marketplaces in Wrocław, Zgorzelec, Oleśnica, Trzebnica, Brzeg Dolny, Lubin, Strzegom, Jelenia Góra, Kudowa, Szklarska Poręba, Świebodzice, Pieńsk, Oborniki Śląskie, Jawor, Milicz and Kamienna Góra. The result? – The officers seized more than 356,000 cigarettes and 17 kg of tobacco without Polish excise-duty markings. The value of the seized illegal tobacco products was PLN 327,000 – says Agnieszka Rzeźnicka-Gniadek, spokesperson for the Lower Silesian National Revenue Administration.
She adds: – The officers issued 29 criminal fines totalling almost PLN 26,000.
At the marketplace in Kudowa-Zdrój, the officers inspected one of the commercial pavilions. Clothing without protected marks was visible in the front, publicly accessible part of the container. In the rear section, however, there was another hidden door. The spokesperson said: – In the hidden part of the commercial pavilion, which was accessible only to people in the know, officers discovered women’s and men’s clothing and accessories bearing counterfeit trademarks of well-known companies in the clothing industry. The officers seized 2,384 items of clothing and accessories worth more than PLN 4.3 million.
Marking goods with counterfeit trademarks is punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
The office stated: – The National Revenue Administration combats the sale of counterfeit goods. In this way, it supports honest entrepreneurs, protects creators’ rights and safeguards consumers. Counterfeits do not meet quality standards and may pose a health risk to users.
Caption: illustrative photo.