Around 12,000 consoles on which more than 47 million pirated video games were illegally stored were seized, for an estimated value of more than €47.5 million (US$52.5 million),” Alessandro Langella, head of the economic crime unit for Turin’s financial police,

The hardware and software seized in Italy was all imported from China for sale in specialty stores or online, according to AFP. All the devices have been destroyed, and the operation has resulted in nine arrests on suspicion of trafficking in counterfeit goods. If found guilty, they face up to eight years in prison.

Italian police announced on Friday that they had seized counterfeit retro gaming consoles and video games worth nearly €50 million ($55.5 million).

Over £40 million worth of counterfeit retro consoles have been seized by police in Italy, featuring games like Street Fighter and Super Mario Bros.

Italian police claim to have seized nearly €50m of counterfeit retro consoles and games. According to the police, the consoles were imitations of classic Nintendo, Sega and Atari consoles, sourced from China. The devices did not meet EU technical or safety standards, it’s claimed.

More than 47 million pirated copies of games including and Mario Bros. and Street Fighter II were seized in raids across Italy.

Italian police have dismantled a video game trafficking ring that dealt in fake vintage consoles and games valued at nearly €50 million (RM238 million). Among the seized items were counterfeit versions of popular 1980s and 90s titles such as Mario Bros,

Italian police have smashed a gang trafficking fake retro video games from China, seizing a haul that they claimed was worth £40 million. Around 12,000 consoles holding 47 million counterfeit versions of classic titles such as Super Mario Bros,