Customs Seizes Tens of Thousands of Perfume Bottles

Following an extensive investigation, officers from the Krefeld Main Customs Office conducted a raid action on a warehouse in downtown Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, in June 2026. In total, investigators seized approximately 34,000 perfume bottles. The goods are suspected of infringing on the trademark rights of well-known manufacturers and, according to the authorities, show clear signs of being counterfeit. According to a release by officials, the Krefeld Main Customs Office is continuing its investigation.

Stefan Thoeren, press spokesperson for the Krefeld Main Customs Office, also considered the health implications of the operation: “Especially with counterfeit cosmetics and perfumes, unknown ingredients can pose a significant risk – including to health. That is why combating counterfeiting is also an active form of consumer protection.”

The seizure is one of a series of notable recent enforcements against counterfeit perfumes. Just a few months earlier, a huge haul of counterfeit goods in Stralsund (we reported about this in the SCRIBOS blog) had attracted attention. During the operation, which took place in September 2025, customs officials seized approximately 21,500 counterfeit perfume bottles, among other things.

In January and February 2026, Spanish and French authorities in Catalonia also dismantled what they believe to be the largest perfume counterfeiting factory in Europe to date: In a joint operation by the Spanish Tax Agency (Agència Tributària), the Catalan police force Mossos d’Esquadra, and French customs, approximately 1.2 million counterfeit perfumes and extensive production materials were seized; the market value of the goods was estimated at over 94 million euros. The actions illustrate the tremendous importance of brand protection in the cosmetics and luxury goods industries.

Sources: Krefeld Main Customs Office | Article in co-operation with Anti-Piracy Analyst