Swansea Council’s Trading Standards team has carried out a second high-profile raid in the UK capital, confiscating an estimated 25 tonnes of counterfeit toys worth around £3 million from multiple distribution outlets on the outskirts of London.
The operation, part of the ongoing multi-agency crackdown known as Operation Grinch, follows months of investigations into fake toys being sold in Swansea — particularly in pop-up shops during the Christmas period.
Toxic toys and a widening supply chain
The haul includes thousands of counterfeit Labubu dolls, a viral collectible toy linked to celebrity endorsements and TikTok trends, as well as fake merchandise branded as Pokemon, Disney, Marvel and other household names. Officers also seized thousands of illegal vapes, many of which were destined for shops across the UK.
According to BBC reports, some of the seized toys were found to contain phthalates — banned chemicals linked to hormone disruption and certain types of cancer. These substances are prohibited in children’s toys under UK safety regulations.
(Image: Swansea Council)
Rhys Harries, Trading Standards Lead Officer at Swansea Council, said:
“The latest seizure is the result of detailed investigations around the sources of counterfeit toys that we discovered being sold in Swansea. Recently, we seized a significant number of Labubu toys from shops in Swansea. This seems to be one of the most popular toys at present, so it’s no surprise that during the most recent operation in London, we found many more waiting to be distributed to shops around the UK.”
He added that the toys were not only fake but poorly manufactured, posing serious choking hazards to young children.
Blind box craze fuels demand — and deception
Labubu toys are typically sold in ‘blind boxes’, meaning consumers don’t know which character they’ll get until they open the box. This element of surprise — combined with limited runs and collectible appeal — has sent demand soaring, with some dolls resold for up to three times their retail price.
The frenzy has created fertile ground for counterfeiters. In Swansea alone, over 1,500 fake Labubu plushies and keyrings were seized, with some local retailers admitting they were unaware they had purchased counterfeit stock. This gap in retailer knowledge underscores the importance of supplier verification and consumer awareness.
Cllr David Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Performance, said:
“Our own Trading Standards did not stop at simply dealing with counterfeit goods being sold on the street in Swansea — they showed a lot of professionalism and determination to tackle the wider distribution into other towns and cities.”
A national crackdown in motion
The London raid was supported by Metropolitan Police, the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, and Trading Standards teams from Newport, Kent and Sussex, highlighting the scale and reach of the operation.
Trading Standards teams in Caerphilly, Northumberland, and Powys have also taken action, with unsafe Labubu toys pulled from sale at events like the Royal Welsh Show.
The dolls, originally made by Chinese toy giant Pop Mart, are now a target for rogue manufacturers — often producing lookalikes with detachable parts, poor stitching, and missing CE/UKCA marks.
What’s next?
Swansea Council says it will continue to pursue the supply chain behind counterfeit goods and work with national partners to protect consumers. Operation Grinch remains active, with further investigations expected in the coming months.
If you suspect counterfeit toys are being sold locally, report it to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
