International Operation Creta II led by INTERPOL and supported by the EUIPO concludes with significant results in South America

EUIPO Supports INTERPOL-Led Operation Creta II to Combat Intellectual Property Crimes in South America

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), as a leading global authority on intellectual property, has partnered with INTERPOL to support Operation Creta II, a large-scale international operation aimed at combating intellectual and industrial property infringements, pharmacological crimes, and digital piracy in South America.

The EUIPO's involvement in Operation Creta II is part of its ongoing efforts to support international cooperation in the fight against intellectual property crimes, within the framework of the EU-funded IP Key Latin America (IP Key LA) project. As the host of the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, a network of experts and specialized stakeholders that support operations against intellectual property crimes, the EUIPO is well-positioned to provide expertise and support to international operations like Creta II.

During Operation Creta II, 12 South American countries joined forces to combat the illicit trade of products in their region, with a special emphasis on those that endanger the physical integrity and health of consumers. The operation resulted in significant successes, including:

• 104 arrests, including 35 for product smuggling, 47 for intellectual and industrial property infringements, 15 for illegal commercialization of medical supplies and products, and 1 for illegal distribution of digital receivers.
• The seizure of over 11 million illicit products, including prescription drugs, anabolic substances, and precursor chemicals.
• The dismantling of several organized crime groups involved in the production and commercialization of counterfeit products.

Notable successes included:

• In Ecuador, the National Customs Crime Investigation Unit of the National Police dismantled a criminal organization dedicated to the production and commercialization of counterfeit liquor.
• In Brazil, the Federal Police dismantled a criminal organization involved in smuggling counterfeit cigarettes worth over USD 250 million.
• In Chile, detectives from the Investigative Brigade for Intellectual Property Crimes of the Investigative Police carried out an investigation that led to the seizure of over 2,400 counterfeit TOUS brand products.
• In Paraguay, the Specialized Department against the Violation of Intellectual Rights of the National Police dismantled a hidden warehouse in the Tri-Border area where counterfeit products were being manufactured.

The EUIPO's support for Operation Creta II is part of its broader efforts to establish alliances in the fight against intellectual property crimes. As the implementing agency of the EU-funded IP Key Latin America project, the EUIPO will continue to create strategic alliances and support international operations aimed at combating intellectual and industrial property infringements, pharmacological crimes, and digital piracy.

Participating countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

About IP Key Latin America
The IP Key Latin America is an international cooperation project in the field of intellectual property (IP) directed by the European Commission and implemented in Latin America by the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). The IP Key LA Project aims at strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Latin America in the field of IP protection and enforcement, addressing jointly identified challenges, to promote commercial relations between the two.

About the EUIPO
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is one of the largest decentralised agencies of the European Union, based in Alicante, Spain. In 2024, it was ranked as the most innovative IP office in the world for the fifth time. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, the EUIPO has managed the registration of EU trade marks since 1994 and designs since 2003, both of which are intellectual property rights that cover the 27 Member States of the European Union. In 2023, the agency added another IP right, craft and industrial geographical indications, to its portfolio. The EUIPO also carries out cooperation activities at EU and international level to create a level playing field in the world of IP and hosts the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights.