Italian Police Bust $52.8M Counterfeit Retro Gaming Ring

Nine arrested as authorities seize 12,000 fake consoles loaded with millions of pirated games.

Italian police seized approximately 12,000 counterfeit retro gaming consoles valued at €47.5 million ($52.8 million).
The consoles, originating from China, were loaded with over 47 million pirated games, including titles like Super Mario Bros. and Street Fighter.
Nine Italian nationals have been arrested and charged with trading in counterfeit goods, facing potential prison sentences of up to eight years.
The fake consoles did not meet EU safety standards and were sold both online and in physical stores across Italy.
All seized devices have been destroyed in accordance with Italian and EU e-waste regulations.