Fake Luxury Goods ‘Could Fund Terrorism’

United Kingdom – Christmas shoppers buying toys for their children may unwittingly be supporting organised crime or even terrorist groups, according to UK border authorities. Officers from Britain’s Border Force have seized a range of fake items worth £56m from ports and airports around the country over the past year. They include toy figures modelled on characters from Disney movie Frozen, Armani watches and designer handbags.

The Intellectual Property Office has urged shoppers to report anything suspicious. In the financial year 2014-15, officers confiscated more than 1.6 million items infringing intellectual property where patents or copyright applies.  Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said: “The international trade in counterfeits is linked to serious and organised crime and undercuts honest traders, damaging our economy”.