French Customs Destroys 38,000 Pairs of Counterfeit Sneakers
Destruction Follows Long-Running Legal Proceedings
In Le Havre, northern France, French customs authorities recently had nearly 38,000 pairs of counterfeit sneakers destroyed; the shoes had been seized back in 2011 in three containers from China. The destruction of the counterfeit goods was preceded by a legal proceeding lasting about fifteen years, which ended in December 2025 with the conviction of the importer – apparently one of the most protracted cases French customs has ever handled. The shoes were finally destroyed in early June.
Serious Penalties for Importer of Counterfeit Goods
In the legal proceedings, the importer of the counterfeit shoes was handed a customs fine of 1.56 million euros and an additional 260,000 euros for customs fraud. In addition, he was sentenced to three years in prison, two of which were suspended.
Destroying Instead of Reusing
The approximately 38,000 pairs of counterfeit sneakers, which had been stored for years at a confidential location in the Le Havre area, were recently shredded at an industrial shredding facility.
The destruction of confiscated goods is repeatedly called into question. Critics view this as a waste of goods that could, for example, be useful to people living in precarious circumstances. Customs, on the other hand, points to potential health risks, such as in cases where counterfeit goods contain toxic materials. French law clarifies that confiscated counterfeit goods may not be resold or circulated. This also prevents the illegal goods from re-entering the market.
Le Havre as a hotspot
As one of France’s most important container ports, Le Havre – located on the English Channel – is a key spot for French customs in the fight against counterfeiting. Nationwide, more than 20 million counterfeit products were seized last year, including about 1.2 million in Le Havre alone. The range of affected products is vast, spanning from shoes and clothing to electronics, auto parts, and luxury goods – including those from major French brands. Everyday items such as soaps and shampoos, as well as toys – due to their short trend cycles – are also targeted by counterfeiters.
Sources: Euronews | Article in co-operation with Anti-Piracy Analyst
