Trading Standards Officers from Barking and Dagenham Council are taking action against a shop after they confiscated 51 counterfeit items.

A council Community Safety Enforcement Officer tipped off the Trading Standards team who visited the shop on Wednesday 1 November. Officers discovered a large number of belts and watches of well known brands such as Louis Vuitton, Emporio Armani, Gucci, Versace, Hermes, Rolex and Boss.

The shop was also selling illegal vapes and these were also seized.

The total haul amounted to a retail value of more than £100,000 in actual costs to the trademark owners.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “This is a great example of partnership working across our enforcement service and between them, they have taken potentially dangerous items off the streets.

“The sale of counterfeit goods is often linked to modern-day slavery, people trafficking and other organised crime, so we will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to this kind of illegal activity.”

The trader is now under investigation and could face prosecution.

The possession for supply of counterfeit goods is illegal under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and carries a maximum sentence of an unlimited fine and 10 years imprisonment.

If residents are aware of any businesses selling counterfeit goods, they should report it to the council by emailing tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk or Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline by calling 0808 223 1133.