Gucci, Burberry, Nike and Apple among counterfeit goods seized before Christmas

Thousands of imitation products from China have been seized by the Border Force, including fake Nike shoes and Beats headphones.

Sunday 22 December 2019 11:48, UK

Undated handout photo issued by the Home Office of counterfeit goods seized by the Border Force as almost ??3 million worth of fake luxury scarves, jackets and headphones were prevented from hitting shop shelves in the run-up to Christmas. PA Photo. Issue date: Sunday December 22, 2019. According to the Home Office, at London Gateway Port alone 1,300 imitations of Chanel, Burberry and Gucci scarves - worth an estimated ??904,775 - were captured by vigilant staff since November. See PA story POLI
Image: Gucci is among the luxury brands targeted by counterfeiters
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Fake Gucci scarves, Converse shoes, North Face jackets and Apple headphones were among millions of pounds of fake goods seized in the run-up to Christmas.

Thousands of imitation products originating from China were seized by Border Force officials in recent weeks from ports, airports and mail hubs across the country.

The total value is estimated at just under £3m.

Undated handout photo issued by the Home Office of counterfeit goods seized by the Border Force as almost ??3 million worth of fake luxury scarves, jackets and headphones were prevented from hitting shop shelves in the run-up to Christmas. PA Photo. Issue date: Sunday December 22, 2019. According to the Home Office, at London Gateway Port alone 1,300 imitations of Chanel, Burberry and Gucci scarves - worth an estimated ??904,775 - were captured by vigilant staff since November. See PA story POLI
Image: Fake Burberry items were claimed by Border Force
Undated handout photo issued by the Home Office of counterfeit goods seized by the Border Force as almost ??3 million worth of fake luxury scarves, jackets and headphones were prevented from hitting shop shelves in the run-up to Christmas. PA Photo. Issue date: Sunday December 22, 2019. According to the Home Office, at London Gateway Port alone 1,300 imitations of Chanel, Burberry and Gucci scarves - worth an estimated ??904,775 - were captured by vigilant staff since November. See PA story POLI
Image: North Face jackets were seized at London Gateway Port

Since last month, 1,300 scarves purporting to be from luxury brands including Chanel, Burberry and Gucci worth an estimated £904,775 have been confiscated by staff at London Gateway Port.

Rip-offs of North Face jackets, Levi t-shirts and Lyle & Scott jumpers were seized at the same site.

Elsewhere, hundreds of bags posing as Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Versace products, and pairs of fake Converse and Nike trainers, have been seized in Milton Keynes.

That haul - at a Revenue and Customs pre-clearance centre - was worth at least £840,000.

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Almost £300,000 worth of bedding marked with the Gucci, Chanel and Versace logos have been seized at the same centre, as have £778,000 of fake Beats and Apple headphones.

More than 200 Estee Lauder skincare sets have also been confiscated at Heathrow Cargo.

Undated handout photo issued by the Home Office of counterfeit goods seized by the Border Force as almost ??3 million worth of fake luxury scarves, jackets and headphones were prevented from hitting shop shelves in the run-up to Christmas. PA Photo. Issue date: Sunday December 22, 2019. According to the Home Office, at London Gateway Port alone 1,300 imitations of Chanel, Burberry and Gucci scarves - worth an estimated ??904,775 - were captured by vigilant staff since November. See PA story POLI
Image: Piles of fake Lyle & Scott jumpers imported from China
Undated handout photo issued by the Home Office of counterfeit goods seized by the Border Force as almost ??3 million worth of fake luxury scarves, jackets and headphones were prevented from hitting shop shelves in the run-up to Christmas. PA Photo. Issue date: Sunday December 22, 2019. According to the Home Office, at London Gateway Port alone 1,300 imitations of Chanel, Burberry and Gucci scarves - worth an estimated ??904,775 - were captured by vigilant staff since November. See PA story POLI
Image: Dozens of unofficial Levi t-shirts have been confiscated

Border Force specialists check the items with brand owners to see if they are genuine as they are often indistinguishable from the real thing.

Any products confirmed to be fake are destroyed and the rights holders then decide whether to pursue a private prosecution against the importers.

Security minister Brandon Lewis said: "People who deliberately purchase counterfeit goods are funding and supporting serious and organised criminals and their illegal activity."

Customers who believe they have purchased counterfeit products that may have slipped through the net are advised to contact Action Fraud or their local Trading Standards office - or visit the Citizens Advice website.

Anyone with information about smuggling activity should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or go to gov.uk/report-smuggling.