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Clothing seized at ferry port
More than 30,000 items of counterfeit designer clothing have been seized by customs officers at Millbay.
Brands including Disney, Playboy, Armani, Diesel, Boss, Calvin Klein, Versace, Henry Lloyd, Paul Smith and Timberland were among the five-tonne haul.
The 270 cartons were seized on Tuesday after a ferry arrived from Santander, northern Spain.
A UK-registered lorry was stopped and a search of the trailer revealed the goods.
It is believed that the lorry was not from the Plymouth area.
No arrests have so far been made in the investigation, which is being lead by Trading Standards officers.
The lorry was stopped by customers officers who are believed to have been acting on specific intelligence, rather than carrying out a random check.
It was stopped and searched in the port area after it had left the Pont-Aven.
The clothing is likely to have been manufactured in the Far East before being shipped to Spain for distribution throughout Europe, including the UK.
Customs spokesman Bob Gaiger said: "Smuggling and buying counterfeit goods funds organised crime and terrorist organisations.
"Criminals who produce counterfeit goods have a huge effect on legitimate companies, often forcing them to close down.
"We view the smuggling of counterfeit goods as very serious and work alongside other agencies to combat the problem.
"We are successful in seizing millions of pounds worth of goods every year and are also responsible for breaking up and prosecuting the many criminal gangs that are involved."
Plymouth Trading Standards spokeswoman Sue Whitney said: "The public need to be aware of the dangers of buying branded counterfeit goods. "Many people enjoy finding a bargain, but counterfeit goods which end up in markets and discount stores are just the tip of a vast criminal iceberg. Quite simply, if it appears too good to be true, it is."
Brands including Disney, Playboy, Armani, Diesel, Boss, Calvin Klein, Versace, Henry Lloyd, Paul Smith and Timberland were among the five-tonne haul.
The 270 cartons were seized on Tuesday after a ferry arrived from Santander, northern Spain.
A UK-registered lorry was stopped and a search of the trailer revealed the goods.
It is believed that the lorry was not from the Plymouth area.
No arrests have so far been made in the investigation, which is being lead by Trading Standards officers.
The lorry was stopped by customers officers who are believed to have been acting on specific intelligence, rather than carrying out a random check.
It was stopped and searched in the port area after it had left the Pont-Aven.
The clothing is likely to have been manufactured in the Far East before being shipped to Spain for distribution throughout Europe, including the UK.
Customs spokesman Bob Gaiger said: "Smuggling and buying counterfeit goods funds organised crime and terrorist organisations.
"Criminals who produce counterfeit goods have a huge effect on legitimate companies, often forcing them to close down.
"We view the smuggling of counterfeit goods as very serious and work alongside other agencies to combat the problem.
"We are successful in seizing millions of pounds worth of goods every year and are also responsible for breaking up and prosecuting the many criminal gangs that are involved."
Plymouth Trading Standards spokeswoman Sue Whitney said: "The public need to be aware of the dangers of buying branded counterfeit goods. "Many people enjoy finding a bargain, but counterfeit goods which end up in markets and discount stores are just the tip of a vast criminal iceberg. Quite simply, if it appears too good to be true, it is."
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