In the latest report from EUROPOL, the organisation recommends focusing on online trade in illicit goods and services as cross-cutting crime threats with a significant impact across the spectrum of serious and organised crime. The report describes that IPR crime is a widespread phenomenon in the EU. It also states that organised crime groups are increasingly involves in IPR crime and that the trade concerns a wide range of counterfeit goods including food and beverages, pisticides abdpharmaceutical products.
The report emphasizes that counterfeit products pose a significant risk to the health and safety of consumers. In addition, counterfeit goods not only cause losses in unpaid duties and taxes, but also reduce the sales volume, profits and investments of legitimate businesses. This removes incentives for investment in research, development and innovation.
According to report, criminals are able to produce counterfeit goods in large quantities at minimal costs and use online platforms to easily and effectively market their products internationally.
The report also describes the links between organised crime and terrorism.
The report can be found here.