Jubilee, Gdf seizes more than 16 million counterfeit souvenirs
"The items were sold at 1/3 the price of the original ones. A total of EUR 1 million was seized'.
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Key points
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Since the start of the Jubilee of the Catholic Church, the Guardia di Finanza of Rome has intensified its controls to combat the illegal trade in counterfeit religious articles, with a balance that already counts the seizure of more than 16.5 million illegal souvenirs and the indictment of 11 people. The activities are part of a special Regional Operational Plan, launched on 24 December 2024, and were conducted in the main districts of the Capital - Borgo, Trevi, Prati, Esquilino and Casilino, in the municipalities of Guidonia Montecelio and Ardea, as well as at the airports of Fiumicino and Ciampino. During the controls, irregular religious articles were discovered and seized, including rosaries, pendants, bracelets and medallions, bearing sacred images, Vatican coats of arms and the official Jubilee logo, illegally reproduced in violation of intellectual property law.
Not only counterfeit goods but also dangerous goods
."Dangerous goods containing nickel (despite the fact that the label read 'nickel free') and lead were also seized," says Lieutenant Colonel Graziano Rubino of the Gdf provincial command in Rome. 'In some of these seized goods, 20 per cent more toxic material was found than the standards'. Rubino continues, 'the items were sold at 1/3 the price of the original ones. For a total of one million euro seized'.
Blocking goods before marketing
.The action benefited from the significant contribution of the Special Goods and Services Unit of the Guardia di finanza, which deployed its specialist knowledge of national and international illicit trade chains, facilitating the identification of illegal materials also through the S.i.a.c (Anti-Counterfeiting Information System) platform. The Guardia di Finanza's controls will continue throughout the event, with the aim of ensuring legality and safety. "The rule is prevention not repression," says Lieutenant Colonel, Antonio De Cristofaro of the Special Goods and Services Unit. "We don't stop at the seizure," he continues, "what we are aiming at is going to look further: money laundering, undeclared work, organised groups. So that the material can be stopped before it is marketed'.
The accused
.A total of 10 Chinese nationals and 1 Italian citizen were reported, while a further 3 people were reported to the Chamber of Commerce for administrative violations. The operation is part of a broader strategy to combat illegal trafficking, aimed at protecting pilgrims, regular trade and the image of the Jubilee.
