In a major pre-Christmas crackdown, the UK Border Force has seized counterfeit electrical goods worth over £170,000 as part of Operation Rivean. The operation, which ran for three weeks from 20 November 2023, was focused on intercepting counterfeit electrical products shipped into the UK as Christmas gifts.
During this period, Border Force officers confiscated 250 counterfeit Dyson-branded haircare products, valued at more than £98,000 if genuine. Additionally, 120 GHD-branded counterfeit hair styling tools, worth approximately £31,980, were seized. Officers also seized 640 non-branded hair straighteners, deemed a safety risk as they failed to meet health and safety laws and standards, and 8,880 counterfeit Oral B and Philips Sonicare branded electronic toothbrush heads, valued at over £42,000.
Tom Pursglove MP, Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery, emphasized the government’s commitment to combating the illegal trade of counterfeit goods. He highlighted the dangers these products pose to consumers, their contribution to serious crime, and their impact on legitimate businesses and job losses in the UK. Pursglove praised the Border Force officers for their relentless work and urged the public to purchase genuine products this holiday season.
According to the Intellectual Property Office, an estimated 98% of counterfeit electrical goods fail product safety tests, posing risks of property damage, fire hazards, and injury to consumers and their families. Giles Lane, Senior IP Legal Counsel at Dyson, warned consumers about the dangers of counterfeit products, especially during the holiday season when counterfeiters take advantage of shoppers seeking deals. He advised shoppers to purchase directly from Dyson or trusted retailers.
Operation Rivean is part of a larger effort by the Border Force to seize counterfeit products. So far in 2023, over 2,000 separate seizures have been made, removing almost one million counterfeit items from the marketplace, valued at just under £200 million had they been legitimate. Recently, counterfeit Apple, Samsung, and PlayStation products worth over £500,000 were seized at Felixstowe Port.
Miles Rees, Deputy Director of IP Enforcement at the Intellectual Property Office, highlighted the broader impacts of counterfeit goods trade, including job losses, funding criminal activities, and posing dangers to consumers due to lack of safety checks and poor quality. The Intellectual Property Office, in collaboration with partners, aims to disrupt the supply of illicit goods and protect the public, while sending a clear message to criminals involved in this trade.
Border Force’s specialist international trade teams work with brand owners to verify the authenticity of detained items. Counterfeit goods are usually destroyed, and rights holders may choose to prosecute the importers. The production of counterfeit goods often overlooks health and safety laws and exploits individuals involved in their manufacture.
The public is encouraged to contact Action Fraud if they suspect they have purchased counterfeit goods and to report any suspected smuggling activities to Crimestoppers or on GOV.UK. This crackdown reflects the ongoing efforts to protect consumers, the environment, legitimate businesses, and the economy from the adverse effects of counterfeit goods.
