Police in the UK arrested six people after raiding a warehouse where influencers were allegedly livestreaming counterfeit designer goods to thousands of TikTok viewers in real time.
The operation was carried out by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) of the City of London Police as part of an investigation into TikTok Shop accounts accused of selling fake branded products through influencer-led livestreams.
According to investigators, the suspects operated from warehouse-style setups filled with counterfeit stock while influencers promoted the items live, answered viewer questions, and claimed the products were genuine. Authorities say the streams were designed to rapidly drive sales directly through TikTok.
Police reportedly entered the warehouse while one suspect was actively livestreaming fake products. Officers immediately shut down the broadcast as the raid began.
Authorities confirmed six arrests on suspicion of distributing counterfeit trademarked goods under the UK Trademarks Act 1994. During the operation, police seized more than $2 million worth of fake sneakers, clothing, and accessories.
Investigators said officers recovered 26,849 counterfeit items from a single warehouse, including around $1.35 million worth of fake branded trainers and over $156,000 worth of counterfeit socks.
Police also uncovered nearly $1 million worth of clothing and footwear believed to be stolen. Officials said the seized stock filled four 18-tonne trucks.
Investigators additionally uncovered what they described as a commission-based influencer system, where livestream hosts allegedly earned larger payouts depending on how many products they sold during broadcasts.
Detective Sergeant Jamie Kirk from PIPCU said the case shows how counterfeit operations have evolved from physical market stalls into highly organized social media businesses using influencers to reach massive audiences online.
Authorities also warned that counterfeit clothing and footwear may not meet safety standards and could contain dangerous chemicals or highly flammable materials.