Six arrested and £5 million of counterfeit goods seized from shop basement during Camden raid

Counterfeit clothing, shoes, bags and watches worth an estimated loss to the industry of £5 million have been seized from a shop on Camden High Street, north London.

The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police Service’s Camden Town Centre team executed a raid on 17 July amid an ongoing crackdown on the counterfeit goods trade in the area.

Genuine products were sold on the ground floor of the shop and most of the counterfeit goods seized by officers were found in the basement of the premises.

Six people were arrested on suspicion of distributing articles infringing trademarks and money laundering offences.

While counterfeit goods may seem like a harmless bargain, the trade in these products can often fund other criminal activity such as money laundering, forced labour and drug operations.

Detective Sergeant Ben Hobbs, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police, said:

“Counterfeiting has an incredibly negative impact on our communities. The shops that sell fake goods are often just the tip of the iceberg, as criminals rely on the profits from these products to fund other illegal ventures.

“Counterfeit items are produced with little regard for the safety of consumers or the workers who make them, so consumers often end up with a poor quality, potentially dangerous product.

“Our latest operation in Camden sends a clear message – there is nowhere to hide when it comes to storing and selling counterfeit goods.”

Inspector Pete Luciano, who is a member of the local policing team in Camden, said:

“The sale of counterfeit goods is linked to wider issues such as money laundering and organised crime which has a significant impact on the local community as well as society as a whole.

“Operations like this will continue in Camden Town in order to protect legitimate businesses, residents and our visiting community in one of the most iconic parts of London.”

Since August 2023, 14 people have been arrested for offences related to the sale and distribution of counterfeit goods during enforcement operations led by PIPCU on Camden High Street. Counterfeit items worth an estimated total of £13 million have been seized. The operations have been supported by partners from across law enforcement, public sector agencies and industry.

Those arrested on 17 July have since been released under investigation.