Counterfeit Christmas Presents Seized

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards have played part in an operation that’s seized over a million pounds worth of counterfeit goods, including dangerous electrical items that were destined for sale on Facebook and probably as Christmas presents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Operation Jasper 4 involved Trading Standards teams from Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Caerphilly, and was led by Swansea. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It was formed to investigate the explosion of goods available across south west Wales at low-cost prices – usually on social media pages, including Facebook buy and sell groups. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Investigations traced a large number of these products to Bristol Fruit Market, and together with the police, an industry specialist and the National Markets Group, officers stopped 12 wholesale vehicles on their way to the market last week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Six different vehicles were found to contain unsafe and counterfeit consumer goods with a street value in excess of £1million. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They were seized and will be subject to further investigations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for public protection, said many of these items may have been bought by local people as Christmas presents for unsuspecting family members and friends. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He said: “There have already been too many examples of people being electrocuted or fires caused by these goods. We are urging residents to be cautious and understand the real threats that exist from these goods which may turn Christmas into a nightmare.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Counterfeit electrical items are often poorly constructed and have not been the subject of rigorous safety checks despite being marked with recognised safety marks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Similarly cosmetics which are particularly aimed at children and young people are flooding the market presenting a real threat to innocent users. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Graham Mogg, Chair of the National Markets Group, said: “We wholly support and encourage the activities of Trading Standards and the police in support of Operation Jasper 4. The sale of counterfeit products via Facebook and other social media platforms places legitimate business and the consumer at risk. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“A market provides a shopping experience that consumers value. When counterfeiters misuse that trust for criminal gain then joint actions such as this will impact on that illicit trade. Supporting this type of action will protect the majority of honest traders and provide confidence to consumers to use well-run markets.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​