IMPI destroys 153,000 counterfeit items in Mexico

The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) has destroyed 153,655 pieces of counterfeit merchandise, with an estimated total value of approximately 19 million pesos. This action is part of ‘Operación Limpieza’ (Operation Cleaning), a strategy designed to combat the sale of goods that violate industrial property rights and harm legal businesses.

The seized items, spanning 20 different files, include clothing, footwear, accessories, toys, and daily use articles. Significant portions of the seizure originated from operations in Tepito and Puebla. Specifically, a single operation in Tepito accounted for over 70,000 pieces valued at more than 15 million pesos.

Rafael Torre Lamuño, president of the National Chamber of the Textile Industry (Canaintex), emphasized the need for total traceability to ensure illicit goods do not return to the market. He called for transparency regarding the seizure and destruction process to prevent corruption and ensure that confiscated products are permanently removed from commercial channels.