Authorities land blow on pesticide counterfeiters
Ireland was one of 16 countries where law enforcement agencies recently discovered almost 122 tonnes of illegal or counterfeit pesticides.
The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Co-operation (Europol) and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) supported the co-ordinated international operation at key seaports, airports and on the land borders of Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom.
This operation, codenamed Silver Axe, continued for 10 days.
Authorities from the countries inspected more than 940 cargoes with plant protection products.
As a result, 48 cases are being further investigated by the authorities.
The infringements include counterfeit pesticides (including non-genuine products), illicit pesticides (including unknown products potentially containing unauthorised chemicals), or false declarations (such as transporting dangerous goods).
According to Europol, 4,888 square kilometres, or an area twice the size of Luxembourg, could be sprayed with the illegal or counterfeit pesticides discovered in Operation Silver Axe.
It targeted the emerging menace of illicit and substandard pesticides, which includes infringements of intellectual property rights such as trademarks, patents and copyright, pesticides.
“This operation demonstrates once again that working with coordinated efforts is the key element for successful results against criminal businesses who compromise the health and safety of our citizens in their rush for easily gained money,” said Wil van Gemert, Europol’s Deputy Executive Director of Operations.
This was the second phase of Operation Silver Axe, which is becoming a recurring operation supported by Europol’s Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition.
OLAF provided Europol with information on suspicious containers of pesticides transhipped in the European Union. Also participating in the Operation Silver Axe preparation phase as well as during the operation itself were CropLife International, the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA), and the European Crop Care Association (ECCA), representing the plant protection industry, EC-DG SANTE, OLAF, Interpol and FAO.
“Pesticides like all high value goods are targeted by counterfeiters,” said Graeme Taylor, ECPA’s Director of Public Affairs. “But unlike fake shoes or t-shirts, counterfeit and illegal pesticides do present a very real risk to people’s health and the environment.
“There has to be a zero tolerance policy for such criminal activities.
“Silver Axe has again highlighted the extent of the problem and the need to keep working together to fight it”
Hans Mattaar, Technical Director of ECCA, said, “The success of this operation is not only measured in the seizure of 122 tonnes of illegal pesticides.
“At least as important is the co-operation between the enforcement agencies of a growing number of Member States. The co-ordinated action will lead to an increased efficiency in the fight against this form of organised crime, which poses a threat to human health, crops, and the environment”.
