Clive Wilson, Area Manager, Trading Standards West with a small number of the items seized

Car boot raid nets £500,000 counterfeit haul

A massive haul of around 30,000 counterfeit DVDs, music CD and Wii Playstation discs have been seized at a Staffordshire car boot sale.

The successful raid was carried out at regular Cocksparrow Lane sale at Huntington near Cannock on Sunday March 2. The operation involved Trading Standards Officers and Police.

Three people were arrested and have been questioned and three vehicles impounded by Police on suspicion they were involved in the distribution of counterfeit goods.

The £500,000* haul included fake Wii Playstation discs and many DVD films which have yet to be released at the cinema. Several thousand cigarettes and a quantity of rolling tobacco was also seized.

Cllr Carol Dean, Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities said: "We need to get the message out there that it is not acceptable to sell these counterfeit goods and that there is a real risk of being caught. 

It is important for consumers to think about the consequences of buying counterfeit products as this can really affect local businesses who struggle to compete with counterfeiters who sell products that legitimate businesses are unable to - such as unreleased films.

"The arrests made by the police are now part of on-going investigations and we are working together to plan similar operations at this and other car boot sales in the county in future months.  Our priority is to make counterfeiters aware that this will not be tolerated in Staffordshire."

Inspector Dave Gains, commander of Watling Street Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU), said: "Officers from the NPU worked alongside Trading Standards officers in this operation. This partnership working will continue to target and tackle this type of illegal activity."

Anyone who is concerned about counterfeit goods can contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

*This is the approximate value of the corresponding genuine items. Because the haul is so large a full inventory has not been carried out

 

 

Page Last Modified: 04/03/2008 16:15:18

Back to top