Counterfeit seizure record

DETECTIVES in London seized a record haul of more than 50,000 counterfeit designer goods after smashing an international crime syndicate.

Officers were assessing the scale of the conspiracy after swooping on 30 premises including businesses, storage buildings and homes.

They found clothing, footwear, handbags and hair straighteners during searches across the greater London area yesterday.

The multimillion-pound haul included brands such as Nike, Ugg, Gucci, Adidas, Versace, Ralph Lauren and GHD.

A total of £350,000 in cash was also discovered as six people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud.

Nine people in the US face prosecution for smuggling huge quantities of counterfeit goods into the country.

These include 120,000 pairs of fake Nike shoes, 500,000 Coach handbags, 10,000 pairs of Coach and Gucci shoes and 500 Cartier watches.