The PSP of Espinho, through the Intervention and Police Inspection Unit, arrested two women, aged 21 and 49, and a man aged 37, on suspicion of crimes against industrial property. The arrest occurred during an inspection operation directed at street vendors at the weekly fair of Espinho.
The suspects were intercepted in possession of several allegedly counterfeit articles, displaying renowned brands, which were being sold at an improvised stall. Following the intervention, 920 articles were seized that showed poor quality in the logos, which raised suspicions regarding their authenticity.
After contact with the legal representatives of the brands and respective expert analysis of the articles, they expressed their desire to exercise the right to pursue criminal proceedings against the suspects. The arrested individuals were later released and notified to appear at the Judicial Court of Espinho on September 1st, with the coercive measures that may have been applied to them remaining unknown.
The PSP warned of the risks of purchasing products of dubious origin, which may contribute to the perpetuation of these illegal acts and expose consumers to goods whose quality and manufacturing conditions are not guaranteed. The police stated that it will continue with inspection and investigation actions in the prevention and combat of counterfeiting, recommending that citizens pay attention to the origin, presentation, quality, and price of products, especially when sold outside of normal channels or at prices manifestly lower than those on the market.
