Burgas Customs Seizes 30,000 Counterfeit Chewing Gums from China

Customs officers from the Burgas Customs Territorial Directorate have taken decisive action against the import of counterfeit goods after seizing a large quantity of fake chewing gum from China. The operation, conducted at one of the sea ports in the region, highlights the intensified measures to protect intellectual property and combat smuggling channels.

Details of the Operation

At the heart of the operation was a thorough inspection of a sea container arriving in Bulgaria, filled with confectionery products. Acting on an in-depth risk analysis, a team from the "Customs Intelligence and Investigation" department selected the container for further inspection. Among the declared goods, which initially did not raise suspicion, customs inspectors found 30,000 packets, each containing five individually wrapped pieces of gum. Each of these bore the markings of a protected word and figurative trademark, but their authenticity was immediately doubted.

To confirm the origin of the goods, customs authorities contacted the official owner of the protected trademark. After an inspection, the company representative unequivocally confirmed that the gum was not original and was produced in violation of their rights. This conclusion allowed the authorities to immediately seize the items.

The seizure of the gum is in accordance with European legislation, namely Regulation (EU) No 608/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which governs the protection of intellectual property rights.

Impressive Results Since the Beginning of the Year

Since the beginning of the year, customs officers from the Burgas Customs Directorate have achieved impressive results in the fight against counterfeits. They have seized a total of over 950,000 articles produced in violation of intellectual property rights. Among the confiscated goods, besides the huge quantity of gum, the following stand out:

• Textile products
• Footwear
• Bags
• Perfumes
• 22 tons of laundry detergent

These operations were carried out at both land and sea customs checkpoints in the territory of Burgas Customs, with the main goal of protecting consumers from products with compromised quality and unclear origin.

The fight against counterfeit goods remains a priority for the Bulgarian customs authorities. Only through enhanced control and strict application of European legislation can it be guaranteed that the market will not be flooded with low-quality and dangerous products that undermine legal businesses and harm the economy.