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TechnoratiThousands of mini Eiffel towers seized as police target illegal street vendors
A police operation in the French capital against illicit street vendors has netted 270 tonnes of miniature Eiffel towers. Four people were arrested as part of a campaign to rid the streets of Paris of thousands of illegal vendors selling tourist souvenirs.
The four people arrested, all Chinese nationals, were operating from a shop in the centre of the capital and were supplying merchandise to around 100 illicit vendors.
During a raid on a suburban warehouse, police also discovered 300 tonnes of merchandise including the Eiffel towers which had been imported from China.
Illegal street vending in France carries of maximum six-month jail sentence and a 3,750 euros fine.
A police source said the aim of the operation is to dismantle supply networks as well as fight against the vendors.
During March and September 2011, 4,000 illegal street vendors were detained including 1,200 who were taken into custody.
Comments (3)
French police start on 18,000
French police start on 18,000 per year. This is a rubbish salary. Almost minimum wage. And to survive on that in Paris, well, if you are single and live in a box, ok. But if you want a proper apartment and a family, you will need more. So stop your rubbish about the police and their "big salary". They earn a rubbish salary.
Soon we we all be street vendors
With Europe implodoing and the world economy doing a slow meltdown, soon we will all be street vendors trying to survive. Lighten up. No one was harmed here.
VENDORS
YOU ARE SO RIGHT , FRIEND!
HOWEVER, THE FRENCH POLICE HAS TO JUSTIFY ALL THAT BIG MONEY THEY GET FROM THEIR SALARY. SO, THEY HAVE TO PRETEND TO BE WORKING REALLY HARD; I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THEY TURNED AROUND AND SOLD THOSE VERY SAME ARTICLES THEY CONFISCATED, TO OTHER STREET VENDORS. AFTER ALL, THOSE ARTICLES WON'T BE INCINERATED; THEY WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF AND ANOTHER STREET VENDOR WILL BUY THEM AND RESELL THEM. APPARENTLY SOME VENDORS DID NOT PAY THEIR DUES TO SOMEBODY.
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