Spanish National Police recently dismantled a criminal organization involved in illegally selling counterfeit Iberian 5J Ham to China. A Chinese female business owner in connection with the case was arrested.  

The group, operating in Madrid’s Cobo Calleja Industrial Zone, fraudulently labeled self-produced ham and sausages with the prestigious 5J and Joselito trademarks. Investigators discovered the organization had attempted to register a deceptive 5T brand (a homophone of 5J) to mislead consumers, though the application was rejected.   

It turned out that there had been thousands of counterfeit labels, packaging materials, and related evidence. The company’s manager was arrested, and a male procurement officer is under investigation.   

This case underscores the importance of purchasing ham products through official import channels to ensure authenticity.