A successful combined operation between of Guardia di Finanza and investigators tasked by TRAP members has led to the seizure of 62.000 fake calendars, 124 printing machines and 16 people being charged with crimes of counterfeiting and commercial fraud including tax fraud of more than 240,000 Euros Raids involved companies in provinces of Turin, Varese, Bologna and Rimini. Products…

A fraudster who sold £250,000 worth of fake T-shirts to buyers across the world from his garage in Stourbridge has been told by top judges that his two-year jail term was fully deserved. Ian Guy, aged 38, was jailed at Wolverhampton Crown Court on May 27 after he admitted fraudulent trading and six trademark offences.…

On Friday 19 November 2015, following reconnaissances made by TRAP partners Surelock and assisted by Camden Trading Standards, a major anti-counterfeit operation on three targeted retail stores in Camden High Street was carried out. More than 4,000 music branded teeshirts & sweatshirts were seized including One Direction, 5 SOS, Motorhead, Arctic Monkeys, Black Sabbath, Led…

TRAP alongside Westminster Trading Standards and a large Police support team have completed two days of intensive anti-counterfeit action, in and around London’s Leicester Square. Following painstaking reconnaissance and test purchasing, TRAP raided 9 retail outlets resulting in thousands of items of a counterfeit nature being seized.

The Plymouth Herald reports that 3 people have appeared in court accused of printing up and selling dodgy One Direction clothing. Kenneth Colley, aged 42, Jason Ross, aged 45 and Anna Strzelecka, aged 39, all stand jointly charged of selling clothing between July 1 2009 and July 12, 2012 which bore trademarked images and of…

Following a reconnaissance carried out by Surelock on behalf of TRAP in October 2014 at Old Spitalfields Market, Commercial Street, London E1, a stall holder Rajesh Joshi, was identified selling counterfeit One Direction, The Beatles and Ramones t-shirts, which were seized by Tower Hamlets Trading Standards and Joshi was prosecuted. On 22 October 2015 Joshi…

Barry Wayne Pritchard of Penycae near Wrexham was jailed for 18 months after selling around £220,000 worth of counterfeit designer t-shirts on eBay over six years. He was convicted of possessing a printing press, a garment printer and a computer and its software in connection with the fraud. Pritchard was sentenced on the basis that…

This successful prosecution follows a Surelock investigation on behalf of TRAP. Counterfeit t-shirts featuring the biggest names in pop including One Direction, Jessie J, Justin Bieber, Little Mix, The Wanted and JLS raked in more than £61,000 for a jewellery shop owner as part of a rogue printing operation. The illegal merchandise was sold over the internet and…

On Monday 21 September 2015 East London resident Todien Tran, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court and contested all the charges pleading not guilty. After a week’s trial he was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to a fine of £10,000 with £19,000 costs. This follows a lengthy investigation starting in 2013 by TRAP partner…

TRAP partner Surelock have helped South East Regional Organised Crime Unit secure another successful conviction. The 46 year old has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for selling fake perfume including counterfeit One Direction product. Investigating officer, Det Con Matt Wilson, of SEROCU, said: “We are committed to relentlessly targeting organised criminals with the…