From Traces to Intelligence: Forensic Science Contributions to Counterfeiting Understanding Through Profiling of Counterfeit Goods

ABSTRACT Counterfeiting is not a phenomenon to be underestimated. It has broad implications including economic losses, health, and safety risks, and the financing of organized crime. Forensic science, beyond merely detecting counterfeit goods, can offer critical insights into the production and distribution stages of counterfeiting, thereby supporting more effective law enforcement and policy interventions. The first part of this paper explores the role forensic science can play in understanding counterfeiting and the clandestine markets it fosters, through forensic intelligence. By analyzing counterfeit specimens, utilizing physical, chemical, and digital traces, forensic science can significantly contribute by mapping the connections between them and uncovering the modus operandi of counterfeiters. The second part showcases specific initiatives that have been developed and implemented, including the profiling of fraudulent identity documents, the physical and chemical analysis of counterfeit perfumes and boots, and the intelligence produced from examining counterfeit watches. These examples demonstrate the methodologies employed and the potential outcomes of adopting a forensic intelligence perspective. They illustrate how forensic techniques can reveal connections between different counterfeit items and provide insights into their production and distribution networks. The findings underscore the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the cross‐fertilization of operational deployments with research initiatives.