One man was arrested and has since been released on bail
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A staggering 3,000 fake electrical toothbrush heads were found following raids at two East London addresses. If genuine, they are estimated to be worth a total of £45,000 with one man arrested on suspicion of distributing articles infringing trademarks and the acquisition of criminal property.
The toothbrush heads were sized after a consumer goods manufacturer identified that the suspected counterfeit products were being sold on Amazon. The case was referred to the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police who worked with Amazon and the manufacturer to identify the products.
On May 12, two addresses on Woodstock Road and Davidson Terraces in Newham were searched and the toothbrush heads were discovered.
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Approximately £6,000 in cash was also seized from the premises and will now be subject to confiscation proceedings. The man arrested has since been released under investigation.
Police Staff Investigator Adam Watkins, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police, said:
“Counterfeit products don’t meet required safety standards. Consumers expecting to receive a branded product, famous for its quality and design, will often end up with an inferior and potentially dangerous imitation.
“Like many other counterfeit healthcare products, these toothbrush heads pose a health risk to consumers. They are often made in unsanitary environments and from substandard materials, which can cause the brush head to detach and become a choking hazard.”
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