-
By:
Jehona Gjinovci
- November 7, 2025 12:14
- Share to:
"Nike", "Fila", "Adidas", "Hugo Boss", "Calvin Klein" are some of the most well-known counterfeit clothing brands that attempt to enter Kosovo.
This year alone, products worth over 14 million euros have been confiscated by Kosovo Customs, which attempted to enter the Kosovo market.
While behind them are other well-known, but smaller, brands, such as "Channel", "Tommy Hilfiger", "Prada" and others.
Goods that have attempted to be imported into Kosovo as counterfeit and that have been confiscated in large quantities include medical products that measure blood sugar levels.
And after them come cosmetic products from the company "Essence". While Kosovo Customs also finds a large number of counterfeits of "Ariel" detergent, which attempt to enter the Kosovo market.
Sadije Topojani, head of the intellectual property rights sector, says that these goods mainly originate from Turkey.
"Kosovo Customs has confiscated as a result that have proven to be fake. There are goods worth over 14 million euros from January to now. The source of origin is from Turkey, we also have from China in smaller numbers, from the highest percentage, Turkish goods come as the most counterfeited. We also have cases from European Union countries and we stop them for verification and they prove to be counterfeit," Topojani declares.
Topojani says that counterfeit branded products coming from Turkey are very difficult to distinguish from the original, as they are very well copied.
"Based on my experience in this field, counterfeiting goods from Turkey is much more sophisticated. I say this based on the responses of the right holders. The deadline for a response from them is 10 working days and the right holders in these cases for most goods that have their origin in Turkey require a lot of detailed information to come to a true verification of the authenticity of that product. This is because counterfeiting is very sophisticated. At first glance, they look like originals, but then it turns out that they are not," Topojani emphasizes.
In addition to clothing, Topojani says that counterfeit "Ariel" is also very difficult to spot.
"We also have a problem with counterfeit detergents, and skin and hair care products. There are a large number of these products. "Ariel" is counterfeited in large numbers. Looking at the packaging, you believe it is original, but in fact it is fake. Of course, we have sneakers, clothing that are many and try to enter Kosovo, but there are also products that pose a risk to human health. We have a large number of medical devices that have turned out to be counterfeit. They are devices that measure blood glucose and it is painful," adds Topojani.
All this work is achieved thanks to the cooperation between the Customs' intellectual property rights sector and the persons responsible for protecting the rights of these firms.
"Intellectual property rights in general are very important for the state, because they involve the creators of these works and also positively affect the economic development of the country. The implementation of intellectual property rights and since 2011 has gradually given special importance to the protection of these rights. We have also received positive assessments from the European Union. This has helped us, the owners of these rights, to receive detailed information on how to identify a product that is similar, but not original. The various visits in the field of IPR have helped us to be vigilant", emphasizes Topojani.
Regarding the attempt to introduce fake iPhones into Kosovo, Topojani says that there are fewer, while the number of phone accessories is greater.
"The largest number is clothing, but we also have phone accessories. We have fewer phones, but more accessories. They are mainly from the United Arab Emirates and every stop made by Customs has resulted in them being counterfeit. It is dedicated to fighting these phenomena," declares Topojani.
Kosovo Customs, in addition to being positively evaluated in the European Commission's progress report, also performs well in its operations within the World Customs Organization, of which Kosovo is a part.
"Since 2017, Customs has been a member of the World Customs Organization and we constantly participate in international operations. The most recent is Operation Stop4, where Kosovo ranks 7th in terms of progress and success in the fight against counterfeiting in this operation," says Topojani.
Most confiscated products are destroyed. Customs also requests that the clothing be sent to charity if permitted by the owners of the trademarks in question.