Bulgaria Seizes More Than 4,000 Pairs of Counterfeit Sports Shoes in Crackdown

Jerusalem, 6 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Sofia (BTA) – Over 4,000 pairs of sports shoes and other imitations of famous brands have been seized from retail outlets along the Black Sea coast in a specialized operation against counterfeit goods, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Interior announced.

Employees of the Cybercrime Directorate of the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP) conducted a fourth specialized operation to protect intellectual property on the territory of resort villages on the Southern Black Sea coast, the Ministry of Interior explained.

During the police operation, commercial establishments were identified in which counterfeit goods – imitations of famous brands – were stored and offered for sale. Over 4,000 pairs of sports shoes and other items were found in the shops and adjacent storage facilities. The goods were seized under conditions of urgency, the Ministry of Internal Affairs indicated.

Pre-trial proceedings have been initiated, and the investigation is continuing, the Ministry of Interior stated.

During a previously conducted police operation in Varna, the illegal sale and storage of sunglasses and prescription glasses and accessories for them, bearing the marks of protected trademarks, without the legally required consent of the rights holders was stopped. About 7,000 items were seized. Pre-trial proceedings have been initiated, the Ministry of Interior added.