Over £500,000 worth of counterfeit goods seized in crackdown on ten stores.
Fake Minions clothing and unlicensed Hello Kitty toys were among a haul of counterfeit goods seized from ten tourist shops in London’s Trocadero.
More than £500,000 worth of counterfeit merchandise was recovered when Trading Standards, Westminster City Council, police and UK border agency staff raided the stores in and around the Piccadilly Circus area.
According to The Evening Standard, the raids came after shoppers and tourists repeatedly complained about price and legitimacy of goods sold in souvenir shops.
A Westminster City Council spokesperson told the paper: “We will not stand by and allow traders to flog fake goods, which rip off both honest retailers and the public.
“Our operation with the Met police and partners shows that Westminster’s Trading Standards team is serious about tackling this problem in the heart of London.”
