Local police. Around 7 counterfeit and dangerous masks seized
Milan, October 2 2020 – Around 7 thousand cloth masks, without any certification or labeling and therefore potentially dangerous, were seized by the Anti-illegal Unit of the local police in Milan from a wholesaler in Agrate Brianza.
As part of a surveillance activity on some Milanese markets - from Benedetto Marcello to Papiniano, from Vespri Siciliani to De Predis - the Anti-illegality Unit seized hundreds of masks with brands of well-known fashion houses (such as Versace, Louis Vuitton, Chanel , Gucci), television characters, cartoons and video games for children (Me against you, Minnie, Pokemon, Super Mario, Minions, Pj Masks, Hello Kitty, Minecraft, Fortnite) and football teams (Milan, Inter and Juventus) .
In particular, from a criminal seizure carried out at the weekly outdoor market in via De Predis, the investigation activity was born which led the local police officers to a wholesale shopping center in the municipality of Agrate Brianza, where they 6.700 counterfeit masks were found, contained in simple cellophane bags without labeling or instructions on correct use. The owner, of Chinese origins, was reported for the crime of possession and sale of counterfeit material (he risks imprisonment from 1 to 4 years and a fine of 3.500 to 35.000 euros).
“An important activity not only for its value in combating counterfeiting – declares the Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Safety Anna Scavuzzo –, but also because it has allowed potentially dangerous products to be removed from the market, especially for children. In fact, these pieces of fabric have nothing to do with personal protective equipment and are not suitable for protecting health, since no filtering capacity is certified. The total absence of indications on the origin also does not allow us to know the nature of the materials and substances used for coloring, which could contain chemical ingredients and therefore potentially toxic or allergenic, even more so if inhaled for a long time in close contact with the nose and mouth".
From the activity in the markets carried out by the Anti-illegal Unit of the local Police, 8 people were also investigated for the crimes of counterfeiting and receiving stolen goods, 10 criminal seizures were carried out (for a total of 500 items including masks, bags, belts and wallets with counterfeit brands ), 4 administrative seizures (for a total of approximately 400 items including costume jewellery, umbrellas and mobile phone accessories) and 2 reports were issued for unauthorized sales. Furthermore, 3,2 kilos of foreign manufactured tobacco were seized and a complaint issued for the sale of contraband cigarettes.
Updated: 14/12/2020