Southall counterfeit crackdown intensifies as 18.5 tonnes of goods seized
Fri 11 Sep 2026
The enforcement campaign, known as Operation Linchpin, is being coordinated by Ealing Council’s Trading Standards team with funding from National Trading Standards. Police, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Border Force and other enforcement teams are also involved.
The focus is the industrial area around Charles House and Grand Union Enterprise Park on Bridge Road, which authorities say has been linked to the wholesale distribution of counterfeit goods across the UK.
Large-scale raid
The latest operation took place on Thursday 3 September, when Trading Standards officers carried out inspections at businesses within Grand Union Enterprise Park.
More than 20 Metropolitan Police officers supported the operation, together with officers from the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Group, HMRC, Border Force and Trading Standards teams from several other councils.
The participating councils included Bromley, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Lewisham, Southwark and Greenwich, as well as Rochdale Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council.
According to Ealing Council, officers removed 18.5 tonnes of illicit, unsafe and non-compliant goods during the raid — a quantity large enough to fill a large lorry.
The seized products included illegal vapes, toys and cosmetics destined for sale to customers across the UK.
HMRC officers also recovered a significant quantity of shisha tobacco on which duty had not been paid. Investigations into the goods and businesses involved remain ongoing.
Traders accused of trying to prevent inspections
Authorities say previous visits to the site have seen some traders close their shutters when enforcement officers arrive.
During the latest operation, officers used mechanical equipment to gain access to premises and remove suspected illegal goods.
The September operation was one of two major raids carried out at the site as Operation Linchpin got under way.
Thousands of counterfeit toys seized
An earlier unannounced visit on 18 August resulted in more than 13,500 unsafe counterfeit toys being seized from a wholesaler operating at Charles House.
The toys had no CE or UKCA markings, manufacturer or importer details, or appropriate safety warnings.
Some of the products also featured trademarks belonging to major brands, including Avengers, Hello Kitty and Lilo & Stitch, without permission from the trademark owners.
The council says businesses involved in selling counterfeit or dangerous goods can face an unlimited fine and up to 10 years in prison, depending on the offences involved.
Previous action at Charles House
The latest enforcement activity follows an earlier raid at Charles House in February 2026.
That operation resulted in approximately 15,000 poor-quality and potentially dangerous Labubu dolls being taken off the market, alongside other goods.
Officials say the continuing campaign is intended not only to remove dangerous products but also to disrupt businesses involved in the wider counterfeit trade.
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said the latest operation demonstrated the council’s determination to tackle traders whose activities could put consumers at risk and undermine legitimate businesses.
She said the action at Charles House would not be a one-off, with further enforcement work expected in partnership with other agencies.
Police: Southall should be a place where legitimate businesses can thrive
Southall Neighbourhood Sergeant Patrick McDonagh, who covers Norwood Green and Dormers Wells, also highlighted the importance of joint enforcement.
He said the operation showed the strength of partnership working against criminality and stressed the importance of keeping Southall safe while allowing legitimate businesses to operate.
The investigation into the goods seized during the recent raids is continuing, and further enforcement action could follow.
For shoppers, the operation is another reminder that extremely cheap branded goods are not always what they appear to be — and that counterfeit products can also raise serious safety concerns.
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