Manufacturing workshops around
Naples, allegedly devoted to producing fake designer goods
bearing such high-end labels as Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and
Fendi has been dismantled, Italy's finance police said
Wednesday.
Police seized as many as 120,000 fake items from workshops
operated by 11 suspects and say they see a connection with the
powerful and vicious Camorra mafia organization.
The investigation began at street level, with vendors
selling knock-off purses, sunglasses, and other fake items
bearing designer labels.
From there, they traced the supply chain back to sweatshops
that were found producing clothing and footwear.
An efficient and widespread distribution network managed to
feed stalls and vendors from Rome to southern Italy with false
goods that reportedly sold better than knock-offs from China,
police said.
The suspects face charges ranging from criminal conspiracy
to sale of counterfeit products.
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