UK markets flooded with fake Olympics paraphernalia

London - Britain's markets are overflowing with fake Olympics gear and have become a soft target for fraudsters trying to take full advantage of the Games, according to trading standards watchdogs.

They have not even spared the Olympic torch with phony souvenirs being sold along the route of the nationwide tour.

Thousands of forged products, which gangs have tried to smuggle in, have been seized at ports and airports across the United Kingdom.
 
The biggest capture came at the Port of Felixstowe where more than 7,000 fake Olympic gym bags were seized. Over 500 Olympic cigarette lighters were also uncovered.
 
 "Fake products not only undermine our ability to raise revenues to host the Games, but the fake goods themselves are likely to be of inferior quality," The Daily Star quoted Chris Townsend, commercial director of London 2012 organizers LOCOG, as saying.
 
"We are working with traders to make sure they don't fall victim to suppliers offering counterfeit and potentially dangerous goods for London 2012," a Trading Standards spokesman said.