£2.5million of knock off items found in shipping containers
One of the containers in which counterfeit goods were found in Southall
An estimated £2.5 million worth of suspected counterfeit designer clothes and electronic devices have been found in two shipping containers in Southall.
Following information received by Trading Standards of counterfeit goods being stored at an address in Enterprise Way, warrants were executed by the police on the morning of Thursday, 15 April.
Officers are still in the process of sifting through the containers which are believed to contain tonnes of counterfeit designer clothes and branded electronics. The Met's Territorial Support Group (TSG) used angle grinders to gain access.
Goods seized include faux designer belts, bags, ear pods and mobile phones.
MPS have worked closely with the Anti Counterfeit Group (ACG) and Trading Standards to investigate the origin of the goods, including those responsible. No arrests have been made to date.
Sergeant Guy Rooney, from Southall’s Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said, "The sheer amount of imitation designer clothes and electronic goods seized this morning is astonishing. We know that criminality at this level is often linked to other crimes in the capital, including but not limited to, modern slavery and money laundering.
“Partnership working and intelligence sharing with Trading Standards and ACG has enabled the MPS to lend assets from the service which have ultimately led to this morning’s impressive haul of knock-off items, and will no doubt put a serious dent in these rogue traders' enterprise."
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April 19, 2021
