Seized Counterfeit Goods To Benefit Good Causes

John Eden Jones from Gwynedd Council’s Trading Standards Service handing over the counterfeit clothing to David Scott from the National Police Aid Convoy charity ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A haul of counterfeit goods seized by Gwynedd Council’s Trading Standards Service is destined for use by under-privileged people in Zambia, one of the world’s most disadvantaged countries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The fake goods consisting of clothing, belts, footwear and bedding and with a genuine retail value in the thousands of pounds were seized by the Council’s Trading Standards officers during recent investigations into the supply of counterfeit goods in Gwynedd. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As investigations into the sale of these items have concluded they will now be distributed to the African country via sea container. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John Eden Jones, Fair Trading Officer for Gwynedd Council, said: “The sale of counterfeit goods at markets, on the street or via social media and auction websites has become increasingly widespread across the UK in recent years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Often, the sale of these products may be regarded as a victimless crime however it is clear that the quality of the products is inferior, and many counterfeit goods such as electrical items are also unsafe and may pose a danger to the personal safety of the purchaser. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Whilst these illegally-branded goods cannot be distributed in the UK, we are very pleased one of the world’s most deprived countries will benefit from the investigations carried out by Gwynedd Council’s Trading Standards Service.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Having concluded their investigations, Gwynedd Council’s Trading Standards have been able to hand over a large quantity of fake goods including counterfeit Adidas tracksuits, Converse shoes, Ralph Lauren shirts, Nike sports socks, Rayban sunglasses and Diesel belts to the ‘National Police Aid Convoy’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John Eden Jones, added: “It is generally very difficult to obtain any form of redress against the seller of counterfeit goods. The trade in these illegal goods also deprives those Gwynedd businesses who sell the genuine article of the income needed to maintain their business. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“That’s why combating the supply of counterfeit and dangerous goods are priorities for the Trading Standards Service in Gwynedd as we look to increase the understanding of the impact it has amongst both Gwynedd consumers and traders alike.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Counterfeiters can face up to ten years imprisonment and unlimited fines for offences committed under the Trade Marks Act. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​