Police found fake iPhones, AirPods, and iPhone cases among the counterfeit goods seized in Northern Ireland police raids.
On Thursday 28 March, 2024, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) seized over 20,000 counterfeit devices in two related raids across Belfast and 30 miles away in Portadown.
According to BBC News, PSNI spokesperson Detective Sergeant Mason did not go into details as to what proportion of the goods seized were faux Apple products. However, the items seen in photographs provided by police appear to be predominantly Apple fakes.
The police did say that items included counterfeit iPhones, AirPods, and unspecified smartwatches, cellphones, and chargers.
“Collectively the products represent an estimated brand loss of 600,000 to Apple and other high street brands,” said DS Mason. The officer cautioned that criminals will “attempt to copy anything,” and said that such counterfeit goods often fund organized crime.
While a 24-year-old male was arrested in the Portadown raid, the arrest was on suspicion of immigration offenses, not counterfeiting.
In addition to the Portadown and Belfast raids, police also raided locations in England’s East Midlands region.