£200k fake goods haul (From Enfield Independent)

£200k fake goods haul

9:29am Friday 9th January 2009

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MORE than £200,000 worth of fake clothes, watches and handbags bound for London street markets were seized in Ponders End last week.

Police found the goods in a raid at a Ponders End property in connection with an unrelated inquiry in East London.

They were stunned to find piles of jackets, watches and handbags labelled as from top brands like Stone Island, Armani, Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Boss, Hackett, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada.

Dozens of pairs of what looked like Jimmy Choos, Timberland boots and Nike trainers were also seized.

Police notified Enfield trading standards department which said that the stash of designer clothes was made up of clever imitations.

Sue McDaid, trading standards head, said: “This is a massive haul worth at least £200,000, which would have flooded London’s street markets.”

She warned that the so-called bargains put retail jobs in jeopardy and could damage the economy. She said: “Buying fake goods is hugely damaging to legitimate retailers and consumers.

“Legitimate traders are struggling at the moment because of the economic downturn and to be undercut by cheap, fake goods is not only unfair competition, it is a threat to thousands of Londoners who work in retail.

“While many shoppers are looking for a bargain in the New Year sales, these goods come with no guarantee or money back.

“Consumers will ultimately pay a far higher price if these goods fall apart after a short period.”

Two men have been arrested in connection with the fake goods.

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