Thousands of fake football shirts seized in warehouse raid
Chelsea to Barcelona, Benfica to Liverpool - thousands of fake football shirts were seized by trading watchdogs at warehouse.
The replica shirts, which had a retail value of £1million, were discovered by Staffordshire County Council trading standards officers at an undisclosed location in the north of the county.
It followed information received from officials at East Midlands Airport that the items had been imported to the location.
Fake mobile phone components, sunglasses and razor blades were also found.
Gill Heath, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for communities, said the fake clothing posed a danger to people’s safety.
She said: “As well as taking money from reputable businesses, there’s no guarantee that counterfeit clothing like these shirts meets high standards and safety legislation, making them potentially dangerous.
“There have been cases before where fake clothing does not pass fire safety tests, sunglasses that don’t offer protection from UV rays, and fake electronics that have exploded whilst in use. These products may be tempting because they look like a bargain, but it’s not worth the risk to your health and safety.”
She added: “The increase in the amount of dangerous and counterfeit products seized at ports is a worrying trend. People should always buy from reputable retailers, as that way you will have peace of mind that these products are safe, and that the money you pay is going to legitimate sources and not potentially funding criminal activity.”
