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The HSD Trendmonitor is designed to provide access to relevant content on various subjects in the safety and security domain, to identify relevant developments and to connect knowledge and organisations. The safety and security domain encompasses a vast number of subjects. Four relevant taxonomies (type of threat or opportunity, victim, source of threat and domain of application) have been constructed in order to visualize all of these subjects. The taxonomies and related category descriptions have been carefully composed according to other taxonomies, European and international standards and our own expertise.
In order to identify safety and security related trends, relevant reports and HSD news articles are continuously scanned, analysed and classified by hand according to the four taxonomies. This results in a wide array of observations, which we call ‘Trend Snippets’. Multiple Trend Snippets combined can provide insights into safety and security trends. The size of the circles shows the relative weight of the topic, the filters can be used to further select the most relevant content for you. If you have an addition, question or remark, drop us a line at info@securitydelta.nl.
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Criminals and criminal networks organising the importation and distribution of counterfeit goods in the EU
Chinese criminal networks are heavily involved in the criminal activity referred to in this report. These
networks maintain warehouses across the EU, mostly in industrial locations and close to transportation
hubs. EU-based criminal networks are responsible for the distribution of imported counterfeit goods
and, in some cases, operate facilities that assemble semi-finished products ( 199). Distribution in the
EU is primarily an online business. Counterfeiters use online platforms on the surface and, to a lesser
degree, the dark web to advertise and sell their goods, often relying on cryptocurrency payments.
Some counterfeiters operate websites impersonating genuine companies abusing their trade mark
without authorisation. These websites closely imitate their genuine counterparts and are also used to
sell counterfeit items.
Mafia-style criminal networks are extensively involved in IP crime. IP crime generates substantial
criminal profits and offers opportunities to lauder illicit profits. The ‘agromafia’ organises the
production, packaging, transport and distribution of counterfeit food products (e.g. olive oil) within
and outside the EU ( 200). These criminal networks are also involved in the production and distribution
of counterfeit pharmaceutical products ( 201).
Legal business structures are an essential component of IP crime. Criminal networks rely on legal
business structures to obscure their operations and distribute counterfeit products. Retail outlets
continue to be one of the primary distribution channels for these goods in the EU.
Some criminal networks operate using a strict division of tasks between their members with some
organising transportation, providing technical and technological expertise or taking care of distribution
or money laundering ( 202).
Criminal networks involved in the production of counterfeit items are constantly monitoring consumer
preferences and adapt their products to meet emerging demands. Criminal networks involved in
IP crime rely on a variety of experts including IT workers, graphic designers, chemists, doctors,
pharmacists, technicians, financial advisers and others.
Furthermore, individual actors are involved in IP crime; they may be conscious, unconscious or
occasional offenders that operate merely for profit, characterised by a lack of criminal awareness and
the abuse of legal business structures.
Counterfeiters often make use of the ‘drop shipping business model’ (a), so orders are transferred to the wholesaler or another retailer that will ship the goods directly to the requesting customer ( 203).