The Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) has opened 23 criminal cases for the sale, circulation and concealment of counterfeit products and HAS seized almost 30,000 articles in enforcement actions in several cities.

In a statement, the ASAE said that the 29,718 counterfeited articles seized, namely sports shoes, knitwear, belts, bags and wallets, fashion accessories, glasses, watches and perfumes, have a value of €330,000.

The inspectors also seized two thousand euros in cash.

The operations were carried out in the last two weeks in Lisbon, Leiria, Porto, Tagilde, Guimaraes, Palmela and Cascais, were directed to stores, street vendors and  establishments selling directly to the public and also social networking sites offering products online.