More than 16 million illegal souvenirs destined for Jubilee pilgrims to Rome have been seized already

Since the start of the Jubilee Year, the Guardia di Finanza in Rome has stepped up its operations to combat the illicit trade in counterfeit religious items. Already more than 16.5 million illegal souvenirs have been seized and 11 people have been reported to the authorities.

The raids are part of a specific Regional Operational Plan, launched on 24 December 2024, and were carried out in the main districts of the Capital - Borgo, Trevi, Prati, Esquilino and Casilino, in the towns of Guidonia Montecelio and Ardea, and at the airports of Fiumicino and Ciampino. During routine checks, various irregular religious items were found and seized, including rosaries, pendants, bracelets and medals bearing sacred images, Vatican coats of arms and the official Jubilee logo, all illegally reproduced and in violation of intellectual property legislation.

The operation benefited from the support of the Special Goods and Services Unit of the Guardia di Finanza, which brought to bear its specialist knowledge of national and international illicit trade chains, thus allowing the identification of illegal materials through the S.I.A.C. (Anti-Counterfeiting Information System) platform.

So far, 10 Chinese citizens and 1 Italian national have been reported to the authorities, while 3 other people have been reported to the Chamber of Commerce for administrative violations.

The operation is part of a broader strategy to combat illicit trafficking, aimed at protecting pilgrims, registered traders and the image of the Jubilee. The Guardia di Finanza checks will continue for the entire duration of the Holy Year, with the aim of guaranteeing legality and safety for all concerned.