World · Europe · 1 hr ago
More than 1.7 million fake Pokémon cards seized in Rotterdam
Dutch customs seized more than 1.7 million fake Pokémon cards from a shipping container at Rotterdam port.
The container was inspected at the Maasvlakte in May after a customs officer questioned whether the cards were genuine.
A specialist noticed differences in the colours and paper, and found that the cards lacked copyright markings.
Nintendo confirmed the cards were counterfeit, after which they were destroyed.
They had been packed into 142,800 packets inside 9,300 boxes.
The seizure removed a large batch of counterfeit goods from circulation, though the sources do not say where the cards were headed.
Pokémon cards can be valuable, which has helped fuel strong interest in collecting them.
No further action is described.
Dutch customs seized more than 1.7 million counterfeit Pokémon cards at the port of Rotterdam.
The cards were found during an inspection of a sea container at the Maasvlakte in May.
A counterfeiting specialist identified differences in the cards’ colours, copyright markings and paper.
Nintendo confirmed that the cards were fake, and they were destroyed.
They were packed in 142,800 packets across 9,300 boxes.
- Who
- Dutch customs seized the cards; Nintendo confirmed they were fake.
- What
- More than 1.7 million counterfeit Pokémon cards were seized and later destroyed.
- When
- The container was inspected in May; the seizure was reported on November 4, 2026.
- Where
- The port of Rotterdam, at the Maasvlakte.
- Why
- A customs officer questioned the cards’ authenticity, and a specialist’s inspection found they were counterfeit.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Customs inspected a sea container at the Maasvlakte and found the cards.
A counterfeiting specialist assessed the cards, and Nintendo confirmed they were fake.
The cards were destroyed.
NOS and NU.nl reported the seizure.
- Quantity
- More than 1.7 million cards
- Location
- Port of Rotterdam, Maasvlakte
- Packaging
- 142,800 packets in 9,300 boxes
- Authenticity
- Nintendo confirmed the cards were counterfeit
- Disposition
- The cards were destroyed