News story

Border Force crackdown on Christmas counterfeits

Thousands of counterfeit items seized by Border Force in the run up to Christmas.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
Home Office sign

Counterfeit designer label scarves, sportswear and electrical equipment are among thousands of counterfeit items seized by Border Force in the run up to Christmas.

皇冠体育app seizures highlight Border Force鈥檚 robust work to prevent attempts by organised crime gang鈥檚 to exploit the UK鈥檚 border for profit.

Since the start of November, items detained by Border Force have included:

  • more than 1,300 counterfeit Chanel, Burberry and Gucci scarves worth an estimated 拢904,775, seized at London Gateway Port
  • approximately 850 counterfeit Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Nike, Champion and Converse bags and trainers with an estimated value of more than 拢842,000 seized at Milton Keynes Inland Pre-Clearance Centre
  • around 3,400 items of counterfeit Gucci, Versace, and Chanel bedding, together with items of counterfeit Royal Crown Derby Collection tableware with an estimated total value of 拢299,400 and seized at Milton Keynes Inland Pre-Clearance Centre
  • over 5,200 counterfeit Dr Dre Beats headphones and Apple earphones estimated to be worth over 拢778,000 seized at Milton Keynes Inland Pre-Clearance Centre
  • approximately 130 counterfeit North Face jackets, Levi T-shirts and Lyle & Scott jumpers estimated to be worth more than 拢6,000 seized at London Gateway Port
  • more than 200 counterfeit Estee Lauder skincare sets seized at Heathrow Cargo

All the seized counterfeit goods originated in China.

Security Minister Brandon Lewis said:

This government is committed to cracking down on criminals and the trade in counterfeit goods.

People who deliberately purchase counterfeit goods are funding and supporting serious and organised criminals and their illegal activity.

皇冠体育appse seizures show how effective Border Force officers are in cracking down on criminality across our ports, airports and mail hubs to keep fake, counterfeit goods out of the country. 皇冠体育appir critical work protects legitimate business and ensures that smugglers do not profit.

Once counterfeit items are detained, Border Force鈥檚 specialist international trade teams work with the owners of big brands to establish whether goods are genuine. If they are fake the goods are destroyed, and the rights holders must decide whether to privately prosecute the importers.

Consumers who believe they have purchased counterfeit goods are advised to contact , their local Trading Standards office or .

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or report smuggling on GOV.UK.

Updates to this page

Published 22 December 2019