Three people arrested and £110,000 found wrapped in nappies as police investigate sale of fake airbags | UK news

Police have arrested three people and seized more than £100,000 worth of nappies wrapped in diapers as part of an investigation into the sale of counterfeit airbags.

City of London Police carried out raids in Leyton and Ilford, east London, in the early hours of the morning, seizing 500 fake airbags and £140,000 in cash.

In one of the houses searched, around £110,000 was hidden in nappies in a wall niche.

The raids were carried out by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) of the City of London Police following a tip-off from the US Department of Homeland Security.

It is suspected that the airbags were imported into the UK from China and then sold abroad for as little as £25.

Three men, aged 34, 36 and 51, were arrested during the operation on September 19 on suspicion of fraud by false representation, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to distribute counterfeit goods.

They have since been released pending investigation.

Read more at Sky News:
Most mailroom managers continue to report problems with Horizon
Boy not prosecuted during riots due to parents’ ‘anger’

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey of the City of London Police said: “Fake airbags pose a serious threat to customers who purchase them and have them fitted to their vehicles.”

“These airbags are not manufactured to industry standards, so there is a real possibility that they may not inflate or may deploy in error in a traffic accident.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Stay up to date with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

“The counterfeiting of a device designed to save lives shows the lengths criminals will go to make money and the lack of regard they have for the safety of the people who ultimately use these products.

“The counterfeit airbags we seized today are being sold at prices well below the cost of high-quality genuine parts. We know that offering a good deal can be tempting, but it is always important to buy vehicle parts from a reputable seller.”

In the US, a consumer warning from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that three people were killed and two injured between September 2023 and July 2024 because inferior replacement airbag inflators were installed in their cars.