Greater than £3.5m price of pretend toys have been seized on the border up to now this yr, officers have mentioned, with 9 in ten being duplicates of a viral doll.
The Mental Property Workplace (IPO) mentioned 259,000 faux toys have been intercepted.
Of that quantity, 75% failed vital security exams, and 90% – or 236,000 of the gadgets – have been Labubu dolls.
It marks the most recent seizure of pretend variations of Labubu dolls, which have surged in reputation this yr after going viral on social media.
9 in ten of the toys seized have been faux Labubu dolls.
Pic: IPO / PA
Labubus are Chinese language-made cheeky-looking, sharp-toothed smooth toys resembling a bear, that may be mounted to baggage.
Earlier this month, 100 faux Labubu dolls – dubbed Lafufus – have been seized in raids on two west London outlets after they have been discovered to pose a probably deadly choking hazard for kids.
Learn extra: What are Labubus and the way did they get so well-liked?
Pic: IPO / PA
In an announcement on Thursday, IPO deputy director of enforcement Helen Barnham mentioned that “with counterfeit toys, what you see isn’t what you get”.
She added: “Behind the packaging will be hidden choking hazards, poisonous chemical substances and defective components that put kids in actual hazard.
“These merchandise have bypassed each security verify the legislation requires, which is why we’re working with our companions to maintain these harmful fakes out of UK houses.”
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A ballot for the IPO additionally discovered that whereas 92% of toy consumers are conscious of counterfeit items, most are extra involved with saving cash moderately than contemplating security.
Seven in ten prioritised price when shopping for toys, whereas 27% mentioned security was an element.
