TWO Kidderminster houses were raided and fake clothing seized as part of a crackdown on the sale of counterfeit goods via social media.

Officers from Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) Trading Standards Team carried out dawn raids at the properties on June 1 seizing a small quantity of suspected counterfeit clothing along with evidence in the form of documentation, computer equipment and mobile phones.

Worcestershire Trading Standards Officers, West Mercia Police and Trade mark representatives raided the premises linked to a targeted individual, who was suspected of selling a myriad of counterfeit goods from a Facebook page.

The crackdown was part of the national Operation Jasper which is aimed at halting the sale of online fake goods, particularly via social media.

WRS Joint Committee Chairman Councillor Bronwen Behan said: “The raids our officers have been involved with have netted significant evidence and information.

“It shows that counterfeiters have nowhere to hide. In difficult economic times we must protect legitimate businesses in Worcestershire who contribute to the local economy. Counterfeiting is a scourge on society and slowly but surely we will put a stop to it.”

Operation Jasper is one of the biggest enforcement operations of its kind, targeted at criminals who exploit social media channels to sell dangerous and counterfeit goods and commit copyright theft.

It is led by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team and the National Markets Group along with private and public sector anti counterfeiting groups.

For more information or to report a counterfeiter people can call the Fakes Hotline Number on 0845 894 1008 or go to www.worcsregservices.gov.uk/fair-trading/fair-trading-advice.