HMRC has seized nearly 15,000 imported items from delivery warehouses across the UK in a bid to tackle customs fraud and help level the playing field for honest businesses.
The items were removed from 25 sites during a three-day operation targeting counterfeit, misdescribed or undervalued goods. They were due to be sold to UK customers.
The blitz is part of an ongoing operation to identify suspected fraud by multiple overseas and UK businesses. It targets those undercutting law abiding firms by evading the customs duty due on imported stock.
HMRC has already made 26 similar seizures from various warehouses in the last nine months, which has included E-Bikes, robot vacuum cleaners, 3D printers and air humidifiers.
Marc Gill, Director, Individuals & Small Business Compliance at HMRC, said: “We’re determined to create a level playing field to allow honest businesses to thrive and will take robust action to make sure that everyone pays the correct duty due for importing goods into the UK.
“We will not tolerate abuse of the customs regime and these seizures show that our checks can and do stretch beyond the border.
“I hope it sends a clear message to any business that thinks it can import counterfeit, misdescribed or undervalued goods that we can and do work with registered fulfilment businesses to identify and seize items inland.”
Any company that stores and delivers items owned by an overseas business that have been imported prior to sale must be approved by HMRC under the Fulfilment House Due Diligence Scheme (FHDDS). More than 600 businesses are registered under the scheme with HMRC. The latest seizure was planned with support from those holding the stock, but the items were not owned by them.
