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Two men jailed in £150m a year in complex fake designer clothing scam

06 June 2023

Another great success for Op Beorma and the Trading Standards team in Birmingham. We are delighted that our members' input has helped with this conviction.

Two men have been sentenced to a combined total of 31 years in jail for one of the UK's largest ever carousel tax frauds. Sock manufacturer Arif Patel and his co-accused, Mohamed Jaffar Ali, were involved in a fraudulent scheme claiming VAT repayments on false exports of textiles and mobile phones, and sold counterfeit clothes worth at least £50 million.

Patel was sentenced in his absence to 20 years behind bars, while Ali was sentenced to 11 years. The criminal gang attempted to steal £97 million through VAT repayment claims.

The proceeds were used to purchase property across Preston and London through offshore bank accounts.

In total, 26 members of this criminal empire have now been convicted and sentenced following six trials between 2011 and 2023, leading to jail terms totaling 147 years and seven months.

About ACG

ACG represents more than 3,000 brands affected by this influx of fakes into the UK and delivers an international network of information, advice and contacts on all aspects of IP protection. Working with Government and law enforcement agencies since 1980, ACG is focused on providing an effective and sustained response to counterfeiting.

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Membership with the ACG is the best way to work with government and enforcement bodies to protect your brand. Our Roadshows and training days help you reach out to police, trading standards and border force officers and tell them about your genuine products.

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