Authorities seized in Mexico City’s Tepito neighborhood Thursday at least 25 tonnes of counterfeit products related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, valued at an estimated 15.3 million pesos (US $850,000).
The action by the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI), known as “Operation Cleanup,” forms part of the government’s crackdown on piracy, illicit trade and product smuggling.
On Thursday, 80 IMPI inspectors led the operation, seizing 80,973 counterfeit products of Asian origin branded with logos of such well-known brands as Adidas, Nike, Puma and Reebok, among others, from several warehouses on Aztecas Street in Tepito.
“With a global event like the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, we reiterate that IMPI, in coordination with the federal government and state authorities, will combat the sale of pirated or counterfeit goods head-on in order to protect intellectual property, safeguard consumers and guarantee fair competition for creative industries,” said IMPI’s head, Santiago Nieto Castillo, in an official statement.
Operation Cleanup was launched by the government in 2024, led by the Economy Ministry, to combat piracy and the massive smuggling of illicit goods, including textiles, toys and electronics, primarily of Asian origin.
The operation has resulted in historically high seizures of illicit goods, with the confiscation of merchandise valued at 935 million pesos ($52 million) in the 20 operations across 11 states that took place before the Tepito operation.
While some of the confiscated goods have been destroyed, roughly 96.8% of the products remain in IMPI warehouses for safekeeping while they are processed.
IMPI is preparing additional measures for tackling the sale of counterfeit items ahead of the World Cup, including inspections, greater surveillance, crackdown operations and the seizure of illicit merchandise around participating stadiums and at Fanfests, to deliver a message of zero tolerance of the sale of illegal goods.
“This operation today in Tepito represents the beginning of a series of coordinated actions that the Mexican government will carry out within the framework of the FIFA World Cup,” said Nieto.
“These actions will consist of permanent operations around the stadiums and at Fanfests to protect intellectual property rights, preserve the integrity of the event, and guarantee a safe and authentic experience for fans.”
With reports from Infobae and Puente Libre
