Health warning over counterfeits

Counterfeit cigarettes were among the goods seized

Unscrupulous market traders in Northern Ireland are putting people's health at risk by selling counterfeit merchandise, the police have said.

Goods worth millions of pounds were seized by officers outside a market in south Armagh on Sunday.

Fake products ranging from alcohol and cigarettes to washing powder were found to be on sale.

Chief Supt Bobby Hunniford said it was impossible to tell what went into the manufacture of these goods.

"When you're buying counterfeit goods, often inferior quality, of a dubious nature, certainly you're not getting a bargain in this," he said.

"You're putting, in a lot of cases, your health at risk by buying these articles."

Mr Hunniford, who was in charge of the operation, said people in the area have had enough of this type of crime.

Bobby Hunniford said fake goods could be harmful

"We have normalisation and we're pushing it day and daily in response to people in south Armagh wanting normalisation and wanting to lead a normal, good quality of life in that area," he said.

"As part of normalisation comes the fact that we have to deal with this high level of criminality."

One man was arrested in connection with the seizures.

Police said they were currently investigating a total of 16 people in relation to similar offences in the area.