Buying fake goods may help fund terrorism, say border officials

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Buying knock-off goods at slashed prices could be helping to fund terrorism, say UK border authorities. Home Office Border Force officials announced how £56 million worth of goods had been seized from ports and airports around the UK. These included Armani handbags and toy figurines from popular films including Frozen and Maleficent.

Emma Porter, Border Force North deputy director, told Sky News that “organised criminals will be making these products for pennies, potentially selling them for hundreds of pounds and obviously that provides them with money to then look at things like drugs, tobacco - but could also be used to fund terrorism.”

Examples of confiscated items include £3.5 million worth of items including £350,000 worth of Bulgari jewellery and £382,600 worth of Louis Vuitton designer handbags, as well as £152,000 worth of Michael Kors cosmetics at East Midlands Airport. In addition,16,400 Apple branded data cables worth £410,000 and £75,000 worth of Givenchy and Celine designer handbags were confiscated at Manchester Airport, and 7,827 pairs of Heelys children’s trainers worth £391,350 at Felixstowe port.

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire explained how the international trade in counterfeits is linked to serious and organised crime. “It undercuts honest traders, damaging our economy. Customers are also left out of pocket with inferior and potentially dangerous goods. We are determined to crack down on this criminality and have Border Force officers working 24 hours a day at ports, airports and mail sorting centres to identify and seize counterfeits.”

The Independent is waiting for Home Office comment.