Counterfeit goods ‘fuelling organised crime profits’

PEOPLE buying box sets of The Sopranos and other hit TV series for a knockdown price at street markets and car boot sales are likely to be contributing to organised crime, according to customs investigators.

Customs officers seized thousands of counterfeit DVDs in the run-up to the Christmas and New Year, a lucrative time for opportunistic and organised criminals.

“While many people view counterfeiting as a soft victimless crime, it is a very lucrative industry for organised criminals,” said a customs spokeswoman.