Food Brands Suing Cannabis Dealers for “Counterfeiting”

A French cannabis trafficking network is currently facing legal action, primarily for hijacking famous food brands to market their products.

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Food Brands Like Nutella and Snickers Reimagined

This group of traffickers sold their products in bags parodying the visual identity of well-known food brands. The packaging, labeled with names like “Haribeuh,” “Nutellhash,” and “Shitkers,” imitated the design of popular snacks like Snickers and Nutella.

According to the prosecution, this approach gave the group a competitive edge in the cannabis trade, increasing sales and profits by leveraging the appeal of iconic food brands.

Fifteen Food Brands Join Lawsuit

Fifteen food brands, including Mars, Johnson & Johnson, and Ferrero, have joined the lawsuit against the network, citing damage to their brand reputation and violations of intellectual property rights. The packaging was reportedly created by a clandestine marketing agency called Pochette Surprise, which worked closely with Caliterter, a distribution point located in Villejuif, south of Paris.

During the trial, Haribo’s lawyer acknowledged “the ingenuity of the accused,” recognizing the sophisticated marketing techniques used in the cannabis operation. “They ended up using Haribo’s reputation to sell narcotics,” he remarked, humorously referring to himself as the lawyer for “Haribeuh” before correcting his slip. Despite the moment of levity, the seriousness of the case was not lost, with the prosecutor reminding the court of the harmful effects of drug trafficking and its contribution to broader criminal activity.

Authorities estimate that the cannabis network generated over 860,000 euros in revenue by using counterfeit food brands. The head of Pochette Surprise, a Spanish resident who did not appear in court, faces a four-year prison sentence. Lighter sentences were recommended for others involved in the network, including those responsible for producing promotional material, some of which featured characters from The Simpsons.

The prosecution argued that this illicit activity was more than just a clever marketing scheme. It posed a significant threat to society, with particular concern about its impact on young people who might confuse the copied food brands for the real thing.

“Drug trafficking is not a game,” the prosecutor emphasized, stressing the dangers of this criminal enterprise.

A Well-Organized Network

The Caliterter drug trafficking operation, located at Place du Moutier in Villejuif, displayed a highly structured organizational model. According to investigators, the network was run like a legitimate business, with a clear hierarchy involving a CEO, a management team, logisticians, and field workers. Despite numerous arrests, including several members previously convicted in earlier trials, the group continued its activities around copying famous food brands.

The alleged leader of this counterfeit food brands operation, alternately known as “Kirikou” or “Remontada Max94,” was apprehended during a major raid in 2022. However, authorities believe he continued to run the network while incarcerated at Meaux prison. The prosecutor has requested a 10-year prison sentence and a 50,000-euro fine for the alleged leader, while his lieutenants face sentences of up to 8 years in prison.

The trial is expected to conclude soon, with the court preparing to deliver its verdict on the fate of the accused.

In the United States, some legal cannabis companies have also had to change the names of certain strains following lawsuits from well-known brands, including Girl Scout Cookies, now GSC; Gorilla Glue, renamed GG4; and Zkittlez, now The Original Z.

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(Featured image courtesy of BFMTV via DailyMotion)

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