More than 27,000 counterfeit items were seized by customs officials who were dressed in civilian clothing during the Lille Flea Market, which took place over the weekend of September 5 to 6. According to a statement released by customs to the press on Monday, September 7, the items included Pokémon cards, sports and luxury goods, and toys. These goods were removed from the market after being identified as fake or violating specific regulations. To conduct these checks, 58 customs agents were deployed, leading to 48 confirmed findings of counterfeit or illicit products. By dressing in civilian clothes, the officers were able to blend in with the crowd and approach sales locations more discreetly, allowing them to verify the authenticity of products being sold to visitors. The targeted products included items that likely violated intellectual property laws, such as fake branded goods, as well as products derived from protected species, cultural artifacts, narcotics, and tobacco sold illegally. Customs officials emphasized that counterfeiting can harm the economic interests of legitimate businesses and creators, as well as pose risks to consumers when products do not meet safety standards. Despite these issues, customs reported that the 2026 edition of the Lille Flea Market took place under generally good conditions. The event attracted a large crowd, with an estimated 2.5 million visitors walking the streets of Lille over the weekend in search of good deals and bargains.