DUBLIN: Nearly 60,000 bottles of aftershave and perfume were seized by customs officers when they were found stashed in a consignment that originated in China.
The seizure was made at Dublin Port two weeks ago.
Among the counterfeit products were fake Abercrombie & Fitch and Chanel scents.
Customs officers say they uncovered the goods after conducting a routine examination of a container.
Counterfeit goods were found concealed behind legitimate cargo.
The items are estimated to be worth €2million on the black market.
However they would have netted approximately €8 million if sold over the counter in retail outlets.
Imports are regularly checked at Dublin Port to combat VAT avoidance.
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A spokesperson for Customs said that if the perfumes had been sold, it would have meant a loss of €1.8 million in revenue to the Irish exchequer.
Mark O’Hanlon, a Customs Officer told RTE One’s News At One that counterfeit goods such as these damage the community in many ways.
“Apart from the loss of revenue to the exchequer, fake goods that can definitely harm the consumer because you don’t have any guarantees with this product.
“You don’t have any health and safety certification for them. Would you use fake medicines? Would you allow counterfeit brake pads in your car?
“The perfume looks nice and smells nice and it is in pretty bottles but would you actually put it on your skin without the requisite certification and health standards that are required,” he said.
The seizure comes as shoppers splurge on special Black Friday deals both in stores and online.
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