Local police and trading standards raided toy and sweet shops on Oxford Street and found more than £200,000 worth of fake goods.
Yesterday a joint operation staffed by investigators from HMRC and Westminster City Council, alongside local police, targeted seven shops.Oxford Street based Met officers proudly showed off a picture of items seized, declaring ‘Playtime’s over.’
The council said it seized more than 14,000 items yesterday with an estimated value of £215,000 from two shops.Wonka bars were among the fake goods found by officers Some stores – which have been accused of evading £8million in business rates – have been found flogging fake Wonka chocolate bars and Rolexes.
In one shop, named Gifts and Luggage, the focus appeared to be on a wall of cigarettes containing more nicotine than the level allowed in the UK.Some London candy shops are also selling sweets that are so sweet they would be illegal to manufacture in the UK. Cllr Adam Hug, leader of Westminster City Council, said: ‘The latest raid on candy and souvenir stores has netted £215,000 of suspected fake and unsafe goods – from illegally strong vapes to designer fakes.