AROUND 200 FAKE Labubu dolls that were being imported to Ireland have been seized by Revenue over the last week.

Revenue officers have seized various types of contraband over the last week with an estimated value of around €340,440 in operations in Dublin, the Midlands, and Rosslare Europort.

Among the seized goods were 200 counterfeit Labubu dolls with an estimated value of €4,000.

The toys-turned-fashion-accessories went viral this summer, partly through being worn by high-profile celebrities but also through the influence of social media as children and adults alike bought them in bulk.

Counterfeit copies of the dolls, which originated in China, have become widespread.

Revenue also seized 374 other counterfeit items with an estimated value of over €89,730.

Some of the imitated brands were Adidas, Birkenstock, Calvin Klein , Cartier, Chanel, Coach, Dior, Gucci, Nike, Under Armour, YSL, Crocs, and O’Neills. 

Around 11,340 litres of red wine was seized.

The wine, branded ISKAR Rara Neagra, has a retail value of over €138,325, Revenue said, and non-payment of taxes would represent a potential loss to the Exchequer of more than €48,170.

The consignment was seized following routine profiling aimed at identifying alcohol products that may be diverted onto the market without payment of the tax due, Revenue said.

The alcohol arrived in an accompanied trailer that had disembarked a ferry from Dunkirk in France. Both the trailer and the alcohol products were seized.

Illicit drugs, weapons and tobacco products seized by Revenue this week Revenue Revenue

Other seizures by Revenue over the last week were:

• 1.59kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of over €25,640,
• 742 tablets with an estimated value of over €1,300,
• various other illicit drugs with an estimated value of over €920,
• over 11,450 litres of alcohol with an estimated value of over €139,750, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of almost €75,000,
• tobacco products with an estimated value of over €4,100, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €3,000,
• and 18 weapons and pellets.

The drug seizures were made as a result of risk profiling with the assistance of detector dogs.

The parcels came from the USA, Thailand and the UK, and were destined for various addresses around the country.

The counterfeit goods were seized as they were confirmed by the Rights Holder to have infringed on Intellectual Property Rights.

Investigations into all seizures are ongoing.