More than £100,000 worth of dodgy designer watches and belts have been seized during a huge raid on an East London shop.
A community safety enforcement officer working for Barking and Dagenham Council had initially tipped off the trading standards team about the shop, which has been unnamed by the council.
When trading standards officers visited earlier this month on November 1, they found a “large number” of belts and watches from designer brands such as Louis Vuitton, Emporio Armani, Gucci, Versace, Hermes, Rolex and Hugo Boss.
Officers confiscated 51 counterfeit items and also seized illegal vapes, which together have a retail value of more than £100,000 in actual costs to the trademark owners.
The trader is now under investigation and could face prosecution for the supply of counterfeit goods under the Trade Marks Act 1994, which carries a maximum sentence of an unlimited fine and 10 years in prison.
Labour councillor Syed Ghani, who is a cabinet member for enforcement and community safety said the operation has taken “potentially dangerous items off the streets”.
Cllr Ghani said: “This is a great example of partnership working across our enforcement service and between them, they have taken potentially dangerous items off the streets.
“The sale of counterfeit goods is often linked to modern-day slavery, people trafficking and other organised crime, so we will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to this kind of illegal activity.”
Barking and Dagenham residents can contact the council about any businesses selling counterfeit goods by emailing tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk or calling the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
