# European organized crime and counterfeit goods crackdowns > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/european-organized-crime-and-counterfeit-goods-crackdowns > Updated: 2026-09-09T17:00:00.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 2. Law enforcement agencies in Europe are conducting operations to disrupt various forms of organized crime involving counterfeit goods and illicit trade. In the United Kingdom, multi-agency efforts in Canterbury targeted retail shops, resulting in the seizure of over 10,000 suspect items, including non-compliant vapes, counterfeit headphones, and illegal mobile phones. The operation led to four arrests. Concurrently, the charity Crimestoppers launched a campaign in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to warn the public about the risks of purchasing stolen or knock-off items. On an international scale, a coordinated operation involving Europol and police in Germany, Italy, and Spain dismantled a criminal network linked to the Italian Camorra. This network specialized in the manufacture and distribution of high-quality counterfeit euro banknotes. The investigation, which began in 2021 and involved 16 searches across Naples, Stuttgart, and Gran Canaria, led to six arrests—comprising five Italian nationals and one Turkish national. Authorities seized firearms, ammunition, drugs, mobile phones, and hundreds of thousands of euros in counterfeit currency. Investigators found the network utilized various channels to circulate the fake currency, including restaurants in Stuttgart. Several suspects have been placed in pretrial detention. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-09: Camorra-linked network dismantled in international counterfeit euro operation Police have dismantled a Camorra-linked network involved in manufacturing and distributing high-quality counterfeit euro banknotes across Germany and Spain, resulting in six arrests. 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/police-dismantle-camorra-linked-counterfeit-euro-network ### 2026-09-06: UK authorities target organized crime involving counterfeit and stolen goods UK authorities are cracking down on organized crime involving counterfeit and stolen goods, including a major raid in Canterbury that seized 10,000 illicit items and a public awareness campaign. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-authorities-target-organized-crime-involving-counterfeit-and-stolen-goods --- Cite as: European organized crime and counterfeit goods crackdowns. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/european-organized-crime-and-counterfeit-goods-crackdowns