Lithuanian customs seize over 170 counterfeit clothing and footwear items

Lithuanian customs officers have intercepted more than 170 counterfeit clothing and footwear items transiting from Switzerland to Belarus, the Customs Department reported on Tuesday.

The shipment, declared at a value of around €900, included fake belts, T-shirts, and sneakers bearing the logos of luxury brands Armani, Hermes, Lacoste, and Yves Saint Laurent. Suspiciously low declared prices and other indicators led officials to suspect the goods were not authentic.

After notifying the trademark holders, who confirmed the items violated intellectual property rights, authorities decided to destroy the seized goods under customs supervision.

The case highlights that counterfeit goods are not only smuggled from less reputable regions—even countries associated with high quality and reliability, such as Switzerland, can be used as transit points in illicit trade chains, the department noted.