Counterfeit Columbia Sportswear shoes seized in Greece

Counterfeit and knock-off footwear costs shoe giants like Columbia, Nike, Adidas and Fila millions every year.

Customs Authorities in Greece stopped a container of counterfeit Columbia Sportswear Company footwear, resulting in a seizure of 19,200 pairs of counterfeit shoes. The shoes had been manufactured in China and were en route to an importer based in Greece. In accordance with the sanctions allowed by Greek law, the shoes will be destroyed. 

“The assistance of customs officials around the world has been instrumental in identifying counterfeit shipments as they cross borders,” said Tim Boyle, president and CEO of Portland-based Columbia Sportswear Company. “We are especially grateful to the Piraeus Customs office in Greece, for their assistance in this significant seizure. We will not tolerate the effects of counterfeiting on our brand and the quality and performance-related problems that these products present to the unsuspecting consumer.”

In recent years, Columbia has made tremendous progress in its anti-counterfeiting efforts. The cooperation of customs officials and the coordination of efforts with distributors around the world has helped to make this progress possible.