UK Border Force has intercepted more than 100,000 counterfeit Labubu keychain toys flooding into Britain, with authorities warning parents that the fake dolls pose serious choking and chemical hazards to children. The popular collectible toys, which feature a devilish grin with wide eyes and rabbit-like ears, have become this summer’s must-have craze, attracting counterfeiters who are selling dangerous imitations for as little as £2.99.
The genuine Labubu toys, created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung and sold by Chinese retailer Pop Mart, typically retail from £13.50 to £211 depending on the rarity of the design. However, criminals have capitalised on the viral trend by producing cheap knockoffs known as “Lafufus”, which are being sold at full price to unsuspecting buyers across the UK.
Trading standards officers have launched coordinated raids across Britain, with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council seizing 32 keyrings and 95 boxes of counterfeit toys from the Pontypridd area alone. North Ayrshire authorities confiscated 370 fake dolls, whilst the Isle of Man saw 200 seized in recent operations.
“We’re seeing criminals increasingly exploit viral toy trends, with counterfeit versions of popular products appearing within days of them going viral,” Helen Barnham, Deputy Director of Enforcement at the Intellectual Property Office, told reporters. These counterfeit toys are unlikely to have undergone the rigorous safety testing required for genuine products and can pose serious safety risks.”
The counterfeit dolls have been discovered arriving through air cargo in fast parcels, with thousands stopped in the last week alone. Many display obvious defects, including missing teeth, detachable limbs, and poor-quality stitching that poses immediate safety concerns.
“Children’s safety must always come first, and we encourage parents to always research products thoroughly and only purchase from trusted sources,” Barnham added.
The fake toys are manufactured with cheap, unregulated materials that authorities describe as “highly flammable”, creating additional hazards beyond the immediate choking risks from small parts that easily break off. Trading standards teams report finding dolls with eyes, hands and feet that detach within hours of purchase.
Kate Caffery, Deputy Director of Intelligence and Law Enforcement at the Intellectual Property Office, revealed the scale of the criminal enterprise behind the counterfeits. “Counterfeiting is the second largest source of criminal income worldwide, second only to drug trafficking,” she said.
Swansea Trading Standards recently led a major operation in London that resulted in the seizure of counterfeit toys worth £3 million. Rhys Harries, Trading Standards Lead Officer at Swansea Council, demonstrated the poor quality of the fakes during the raid.
“The head comes off. The feet will pull off,” Harries explained as a counterfeit doll literally fell apart in his hands. I’ve found them in the bags where their eyes are coming off, their hands will come off.
The Labubu phenomenon exploded after celebrities including Rihanna, Lisa from Blackpink, and Kim Kardashian were spotted with the collectibles attached to their designer handbags. The toys are sold in “blind boxes”, meaning buyers don’t know which design they’ll receive until opening, adding to their appeal and driving prices on the resale market.
Pop Mart was forced to suspend all in-store sales in the UK in May after reports of brawls breaking out at retail locations. The company cited “long queues forming outside our stores” and the need to ensure “the safety and comfort of everyone” in their decision to move sales online only.
Authentic Labubu dolls feature exactly nine teeth, a pale peach-coloured face, and carry an authenticity stamp on the right foot visible under UV light. The genuine packaging includes holographic QR codes and the official Pop Mart logo with a matte finish.
The authentic Labubus always have some sort of embossed or shelling, just different lettering on the box,” explained Kass Carey, a Labubu collector. Counterfeit versions often display spelling errors, with some packages reading “Pop Mabt” instead of Pop Mart.
Aberdeen City Council’s trading standards team seized counterfeit toys from four premises after discovering products without required CE or UKCA safety marks. Trading Standards manager Graeme Paton warned: “These counterfeit toys can seem like a bargain compared with trying to source the genuine toy, especially when they are a much-sought-after item, but they are potentially dangerous.”
Oldham Council recently seized 104 counterfeit dolls valued between £800 and £1,000 from local businesses. Councillor Elaine Taylor, Cabinet Member for Housing and Licensing, stated: “We know it can be tempting to buy toys that look like a bargain, but parents need to be extra careful.”
The counterfeit crisis extends beyond traditional retail channels, with criminals targeting online marketplaces and social media platforms. Trading standards officers report that many retailers were unaware they had purchased counterfeit stock, highlighting the sophisticated nature of the criminal operations.
“Fake toys like these may be cheaper, but they can put children in real danger if they’re not made to strict safety standards,” Taylor emphasised.
Pop Mart has taken aggressive legal action to protect its intellectual property, filing a lawsuit against 7-Eleven and its franchises in California for allegedly selling counterfeit versions. The company holds over 70 copyrights for Labubu and nearly 2,200 trademarks in China alone.
Chinese authorities have also joined the crackdown, with customs offices seizing nearly 49,000 suspected Lafufus in recent weeks. The Yiwu market, known as a hub for counterfeit toys, removed all fake Labubu figures overnight following government intervention.
Consumer protection agencies advise checking packaging carefully for CE or UKCA marks and verifying supplier details before purchase. Genuine Pop Mart products are sold exclusively through authorised retailers and the company’s official channels.
“If it seems too good to be true or cheap, it’s likely to be fake,” warned Rhondda Cynon Taf Council officials, noting that authentic products were being undercut by counterfeits priced at £2.99 to £3.99.
With operations continuing across Pontypridd, Holyhead, Lancashire and London, authorities expect seizure numbers to rise as the Christmas shopping season approaches. Trading standards teams remain on high alert for the viral toy trend that criminals have exploited within days of its popularity surge.
Parents discovering potential counterfeit toys are urged to contact Consumer Advice Scotland on 0808 164 6000, whilst retailers can seek guidance from their local trading standards teams to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
