OLAF helps Portugal break counterfeit truck part trade

Press release no. 12/2026
PDF version

A major operation targeting the import of counterfeit goods into the European Union has led to the seizure in Portugal of truck parts worth hundreds of thousands of euros and with a serious risk to road safety. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) was heavily involved in the operation, providing analysis and information and coordinating with national authorities and the brand owners across several EU countries.

The operation focused on parts purporting to come from a number of well-known truck brands but which were in fact made illegally in Türkiye. Acting on information supplied by OLAF, the Portuguese Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) carried out investigations in Vila Nova de Gaia, Leiria and Lisbon, uncovering a total of 14,629 counterfeit items worth more than €600,000. ASAE was supported on the ground by OLAF investigators and by representatives from the companies concerned to check the authenticity of the goods.

The seized goods include oil filters, fuel filters, air filters, cabin filters, bearings, valves, belt tensioners and brake cylinders, all of which posed a serious risk to road safety if used in the trucks. They carried forged trademarks from the brands in question and could easily have been mistaken for the genuine article by businesses or consumers.

Petr Klement, Director-General of OLAF, said: "Counterfeit goods cause economic losses for companies and undermine consumer trust; in this case, they also posed a major risk to consumer safety. Any one of the counterfeit products seized could have caused serious problems to the vehicle in which it was installed, potentially leading to traffic accidents or worse. OLAF will continue to work with partners across the EU and beyond to stop counterfeit goods that harm consumers, businesses and the EU economy."

Additional information about the Portuguese seizures can be found in the ASAE press release.

OLAF mission, mandate and competences:

OLAF's mission is to detect, investigate and stop wrongdoings related to EU funds.

OLAF fulfils its mission by:

• carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers' money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
• contributing to strengthening citizens' trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions;
• developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.

In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:

• all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
• some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
• suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.

Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF's recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.

For further details:

Pierluigi CATERINO
Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335
Email: olaf-mediaec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
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Bluesky: euantifraud.bsky.social