On 12 July 2018, OLAF reported that a joint inspection with Dubai customs led to the seizure of a total of 82 tons of counterfeit steel pipes in the port of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The seizure was one of the major successes of the cooperation between OLAF and the United Arab Emirates customs authorities. The operation also involved one of the main manufacturers of steel pipes, the French company “Vallourec,” which delivered information on the trade and products. The trade with counterfeit steel pipes has become an increasingly lucrative business since it is closely connected with the petroleum industry.

Smuggling of counterfeit steel pipes not only damages the EU budget, but also endangers health and security, because the counterfeit products regularly do not meet quality requirements and customers’ specifications.