Spanish police have confiscated over 11 tonnes of counterfeit football team jerseys in a major crackdown ahead of the Champions League final this weekend and the

upcoming Euro 2024 tournament, officials announced on Friday.

During the operation, officers discovered jerseys from various Spanish football clubs and European national teams, along with counterfeit luxury watches, leather goods, and electronic equipment. These items were found in searches of 15 heavy-duty trucks, according to a police statement.

"The counterfeit goods were intended for distribution by various organizations in Spain through street sales, social media platforms, and websites," the statement said.

In total, police seized over 46,000 counterfeit items, including more than 36,500 jerseys, with an estimated street value exceeding six million euros ($6.5 million).

The ongoing operation began in April after authorities intercepted two tonnes of counterfeit football jerseys from China. This initial seizure led to the discovery of a larger shipment of counterfeit goods arriving in Spain, destined for criminal organizations planning to flood the market with fake sports kits in conjunction with the Champions League final and Euro 2024.

Real Madrid is set to compete for their 15th European club title against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final on Saturday at Wembley Stadium in London.

The 2024 European Championship finals will be hosted by Germany from June 14 to July 14.

Counterfeiting is a global issue affecting various sectors including fashion, toys, electronics, food, and pharmaceuticals. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), counterfeit goods represent 2.5 percent of world trade. Photo by Julien Navarro, Wikimedia commons.