Six-fold increase

Customs: More and more counterfeit goods are in circulation

Counterfeit designer bags cost less but are confiscated.(Bild: Konstantin Pelykh)

In 2023, customs in Austria uncovered 7072 cases of product piracy and initiated 14,061 proceedings. As a result, a total of 194,165 counterfeit items were confiscated. 

Watches, handbags, medicines, shoes, machine and car parts were seized particularly often.

"In some countries, entire industries are involved in the production of cheap copies. Counterfeiters and their "companies" now operate like well-organized firms on an industrial scale. Last year's results clearly show how crucial the efforts of our customs authorities are in the fight against product piracy," said Finance Minister Magnus Brunner.

Success through improved risk analyses
In 2023, Austrian Customs carried out 7,072 product piracy seizures, an increase of 77 percent compared to the previous year. The number of confiscated articles (194,165) increased by 586 percent compared to 2022. The increase in cases is due to increased control activities, particularly in postal traffic. The improvement in risk analysis and risk assessment also contributed significantly to the increase in seizures, especially at Vienna Airport.

The situation in the area of counterfeit medicines remains alarming. Although a decrease of 40 percent was recorded compared to the previous year, the number of counterfeit and illegal medicines imported into Austria remains worryingly high with 6734 shipments and 801,863 items of various medicines.

Internet giant stopped more than seven million counterfeit items
Last year, Amazon identified, confiscated and disposed of more than seven million counterfeit products worldwide. Since its inception in 2020, Amazon's counterfeit crime department has brought over 21,000 actors with dishonest intentions to justice through legal proceedings and reports to law enforcement agencies.