In mid-November, customs officers at Vienna Airport struck a major blow against product piracy. As part of a special operation in the cargo area of ​​the customs warehouse, a total of 5.121 counterfeit branded products were discovered and confiscated in four shipments from Thailand. The find once again underlines the importance of consistent customs controls in international trade. The goods seized included a wide range of counterfeit items that were modeled on well-known brands. These included 1.402 pairs of shoes, 1.279 bags and backpacks, 415 sports shirts, 378 caps, 193 jackets, 318 pieces of jewelry, 115 belts, 318 tracksuits and 342 pieces of packaging material. According to investigations to date, the counterfeit products were to be transported via Austria to Great Britain and the Netherlands. Damage to the economy and consumers Finance Minister Gunter Mayr emphasized the relevance of such customs finds: “Product piracy is not a trivial offense. These counterfeits harm honest companies and, because of their often inferior quality, consumers as well.” Counterfeit products not only endanger the reputation of the brands concerned, but also result in economic losses for the original manufacturers. The inferior quality of the counterfeits also poses potential risks for buyers who unknowingly purchase such products. After the goods were seized, the rights holders were informed in order to initiate possible legal action. Combating product piracy is an important concern in Europe, which is effectively promoted by the cooperation of customs authorities and brand owners. This cooperation enables the rapid identification and combating of illegal flows of goods. International problem requires vigilance The origin of the seized goods from Thailand and their planned forwarding to Great Britain and the Netherlands underline the global nature of product piracy. Organised networks often use the