The director of a Southall-based company has received a suspended prison sentence after 18 tonnes of counterfeit luxury goods – with an estimated street value of £5 million – were uncovered during a warehouse raid at Charles House on Bridge Road.
Parvesh Virmani, of Brabazon Road, Hounslow, was found with around 53,000 fake goods at Bling Master Company Limited’s premises in Southall.
The seizure followed a raid by Ealing Council’s trading standards officers in April 2023, supported by the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, an industry group that represents more than 3,000 brands.
The haul included counterfeit handbags, clothing, footwear, jewellery, and perfumes imitating luxury brands such as Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren – representing an estimated £5 million loss to the fashion industry.
At Isleworth Crown Court last month (17 March 2025), Virmani was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, along with 100 hours of unpaid work and a 15-day rehabilitation programme. He was also ordered to pay £1,200 towards legal costs. The counterfeit items will now be destroyed. Bling Master Company Limited itself was dissolved in January 2024.
Following the raid, the haul of fake goods were securely stored off-site, outside the Borough and are all set to be destroyed by the Anti-Counterfeiting Group.
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, Ealing Council’s lead member for decent living incomes, said: “Counterfeiters aim to deceive consumers into believing they are buying safe, high-quality products made by well-known, reputable companies. The products are often far from that, and can sometimes even be dangerous, having not undergone any safety checks.”
Councillor Nagpal added: “Buying fakes may seem harmless enough, but it is not a victimless crime. It lines the pockets of organised crime groups, with profits fuelling gang-related activity, human trafficking, and even terrorism. It also damages legitimate businesses and robs the taxpayer of legitimate income.
“Our hardworking trading standards officers will use all means available to protect our communities and businesses from the threat posed by those dealing in counterfeit goods.”
Anyone with information on the sale of illegal goods in the borough is urged to contact tradingstandards@ealing.gov.uk
