Police seize £200 million worth of counterfeit designer goods in west London raid

Officers from City of London Police’s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) seized counterfeit designer goods worth an estimated loss to the industry of £200 million during a warrant in Southall, London.

Approximately 84,000 items, primarily counterfeit designer watches, were seized from a storage unit on Bridge Road on Tuesday 1 November 2022. Other items recovered included counterfeit sunglasses, handbags and clothing.

Officers believe that the goods were intended to be distributed amongst various counterfeit retailers and sold to the public.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Robinson, from City of London Police’s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), said:

“This activity should send a clear message that the trade of counterfeit goods will not be tolerated. We will continue to take enforcement action in the area with our partners, and work to identify the organised crime groups that sit behind this criminal activity.

“Our work will have seriously disrupted the trade of counterfeit watches in the lead up to Christmas, and it is vital for the public to remember that you don’t know what crimes you are funding when buying counterfeit goods, or the conditions that those who produce them are working in.”

One man was arrested and later released under investigation.