On 25 November 2025, the World Customs Organization (WCO) held its 3rd Symposium on ‘Removing Counterfeits from E-Commerce’, with the support of the Customs Co-operation Fund (CCF) Japan.
Symposium Highlights
The Symposium served as a platform to sustain and strengthen initiatives to increase awareness among Customs officers and the general public of the risks and adverse impacts associated with counterfeit goods in e-commerce.
In the keynote address, the Director of the Trade and Agriculture Directorate (TAD) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlighted that while digitalisation unleashes new opportunities for growth, it also creates new channels for harm. The director underscored the need for stronger enforcement systems, better data architecture and enhanced cross-border cooperation to counter illicit trade.
The symposium brought together over 900 participants, representing a broad spectrum of stakeholders – including WCO member administrations, the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) network, international organisations, rights holders, industry representatives, private sector actors (e-commerce platforms, Customs brokers, express carriers, and postal operators), and academia – reflecting the collective momentum behind this global effort. During a panel discussion titled ‘Behind the Border: Using Data to Combat Counterfeiting in E-Commerce and Protect Society”, a representative from Portugal Customs, an online platform, and a rights holder, shared some very fruitful and insightful thoughts with the audience.
Operation STOP IV: A global enforcement effort
The event shone a spotlight on the results of Operation STOP IV, a global enforcement initiative targeting the online trade of counterfeit goods.
Operation STOP IV, which ran from 12 to 30 May 2025, brought together Customs administrations worldwide to intensify inspections of high-risk consignments, apply advanced risk management methods, share intelligence, and disrupt illicit supply chains in the digital marketplace.
Launched to disrupt the flow of counterfeit medicines and intellectual property rights (IPR)-infringing products in e-commerce, Operation STOP IV involved 119 Customs administrations, with collaborative support from RILO as well as international partners such as the European Union (European Commission, DG TAXUD), Europol, Guardia di Finanza, International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), INTERPOL, and European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
The operation not only fulfilled its primary objective, but also provided a vital opportunity to enhance the operational capabilities of Customs officials. Prior to the operation, four pre-operational regional workshops were held online, with a total of 217 Customs officers participating. A dedicated stakeholder session was also organised, during which international organisations, platform operators, logistics operators, and rights holders shared their expertise and challenges related to e-commerce. Through these workshops, Customs officers gained practical insights into emerging e-commerce risks.
Operation STOP IV Results
The operation yielded impressive results, with 1,066 cases reported and 1,774 seizures conducted. These included:
- IPR-infringing goods: 5.5 million pieces and 68 tonnes
- Counterfeit medicines: 171.7 million pieces and 27 tonnes
- Other counterfeit goods: 10.9 million pieces and 106 tonnes
These figures underscore the scale of illicit trade in the digital marketplace, highlight vulnerabilities in e-commerce channels, emphasise the critical role Customs plays in protecting consumers and legitimate businesses from harmful products, and reaffirm the importance of coordinated enforcement.
Reports of counterfeit health or beauty products showed an increasing trend, spanning a wide range of items, from those intended for medical use to those for cosmetic or aesthetic use. There are also ongoing reports of attempts to distribute counterfeit weight-loss products.
Secure communication tool
The WCO’s IPR CENcomm Group’s secure communication tool played a pivotal role in Operation STOP IV, enabling real-time data sharing on seizures among members. Its use ensured not only the smooth exchange of critical information but also a coordinated, prompt response, highlighting the tool’s essential contribution to the operation’s overall success.