Fake goods 'fund serious crime'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7782472.stm

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Christmas shoppers are being urged to avoid buying fake goods to prevent profits being used to fund serious organised crime in their local area.

The Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) said illegal traders were often also involved in drugs and fire arms trade and human trafficking.

The agency said people needed to think about what they were really paying for.

It wants the public to avoid buying items such as fake designer clothes, handbags, trainers, CDS and DVDs.

Other items that are often forged include sophisticated manufactured goods, such as car or aeroplane parts, electrical goods and pharmaceuticals.

SCDEA director Gordon Meldrum said: "With the economic downturn upon us, I am sure as a country we want every pound we spend to help keep our economy going and friends, family and neighbours in jobs.

"Fake goods simply siphon those pounds into the hands of people who couldn't care less.

"So I would urge shoppers to ask themselves whether they really want their hard earned cash to be used to fund organised crime in their area."

This year more than 400,000 counterfeit albums, worth more than £4m, were seized in Scotland.

Nearly 150,000 pirated DVDs, with a street value close to £0.5m have also been netted.