Don’t buy fake gifts that fund crime gangs, tourists warned

SCOTS holidaymakers have been urged to avoid buying counterfeit goods abroad in a bid to crack down on serious organised crime.

Gangs use the trade in fake goods to fund activities such as human trafficking, firearms and illegal drugs, officials have warned.

They said while some tourists may be tempted by the cheap price of consumer goods they find abroad – such as designer clothes, handbags, trainers, and DVDs – the money they spend could finance drug dealing operations in their local area due to today’s “global marketplace”.

The stark warning was made by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), the body responsible for tackling serious organised crime.

Yesterday, its officers visited Glasgow Airport to drive home their message and show people examples of fake goods such as branded clothing, handbags, hair straighteners and smartphones. Officers will also carry out an awareness drive today at Edinburgh Airport. They will visit Prestwick Airport on 21 October, and have already been to Aberdeen and Inverness.

SCDEA Detective Chief Inspector Ronnie Megaughin said: “The trade in fake goods is not a victimless crime; there is no such thing. Those who are involved in this illegal activity are very often also responsible for peddling drugs in our communities, forcing people into the sex trade and trading in firearms.”

He added: “The fake goods that you see at markets at home and abroad are being sold to raise funds for organised crime groups. We live in a global marketplace and criminals have no regard for international boundaries, so it could mean that the cash you spend at markets on holiday is being used to fund drug dealing in your local area.

“Many of these products are dangerous because they are produced with no regard for health and safety regulations.”

The UK Border Agency, which works to uncover fake goods being imported into the UK, said some of the counterfeit items are shipped to Britain in an attempt to sell them to consumers here.

Murdo MacMillan, assistant director for the agency in Scotland, said: “UK Border Agency officers operate 24 hours a day at ports, airports and mail sorting centres to prevent fake goods hitting the UK’s streets, where they can be bought by unsuspecting members of the public. Many people enjoy finding a bargain but counterfeit goods are just the tip of the criminal iceberg.”

Outlining the signs which people can use to help spot a fake, Mr Megaughin said: “Price, place and packaging are all indicators of whether something is genuine or not. It is unlikely that genuine designer brands would be on sale at market stalls, and if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

In August, YouGov research commissioned by Crimestoppers found 24 per cent of adults have knowingly bought a fake DVD. When asked if they would still buy a product knowing it was fake and might fund crimes such as human trafficking, 56 per cent said no.

More than four million items were seized at the UK border in 2009-10 – with an estimated value of about £40 million.