Nine arrested in Italy for selling counterfeit retro game consoles from China
Italian police arrested nine for selling counterfeit retro consoles, seizing 12,000 devices and 47 million pirated games worth €47.5 million.
Italy's Guardia di Finanza (GdF) successfully carried out the 'Coin-Up 80' investigation, dismantling a criminal network involved in selling counterfeit retro gaming consoles. The operation resulted in the arrest of nine individuals and the seizure of 12,000 fake devices containing 47 million pirated games, with an estimated value of €47.5 million.
The counterfeit consoles, produced in China, were designed to look like popular retro gaming consoles and included games from the 80s and 90s. They were sold both in physical stores across major cities such as Naples, Milan, Bologna, and Caserta, as well as through online platforms, lacking the necessary 'CE' marking for legal sale in Europe.
Guardia di Finanza highlighted that emulation technology has made it easier for criminals to produce these counterfeit products. The seized consoles were destroyed in compliance with e-waste regulations, and the arrested individuals face potential prison sentences of up to eight years, making it unlikely they will re-enter the illicit market soon.