Fake Goods Worth £1m Seized

Thurrock Council's trading standards team - working with colleagues from London and the police have seized goods estimated worth more than £1m in early morning raids.

Warrants were executed simultaneously at three private addresses in Thurrock and London in relation to counterfeit goods at 6am on Tuesday last week (14 October).

Thurrock's team, with support from a financial investigator and officers from Essex Police, Metropolitan Police, Waltham Forest and Brent trading standards visited three private addresses - in South Ockendon, Walthamstow and Brent - and two storage units in Leytonstone (connected to the Walthamstow address).

The action followed a series of warrants issued since April this year as part of Operation Mulberry.

On Tuesday, items were seized from the private addresses in South Ockendon and Walthamstow, as well as both storage units.

These included mobile 'phones, tablet computers, laptops, invoices and branded goods such as handbags, purses, sunglasses, headphones and fragrances which are thought to be counterfeit and included alleged Mulberry handbags, Mulberry purses, Ugg boots, RayBan sunglasses, Calvin Klein fragrances, and Dr Dre Beats headphones.

The seized items will now be examined by representatives from each of the brands concerned.

It is estimated that the retail value of the seized goods - if genuine - would be in excess of £1m.

Also, several thousand pounds in cash was seized from one of the addresses under Proceeds of Crime Act.

Heart's been told the investigation is continuing.