Explosion in Christmas fakes

CUSTOMS officers have seized more than ten tonnes of fake Ferrero Rocher chocolates in the run up to Christmas.

The head of the Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) Jérôme Fournel said the haul was “by far the most important recent confiscation of counterfeit food products.”

The 32,832 fake chocolate boxes were confiscated on November 28 at Rungis in Val-de-Marne and are thought to have come from Turkey.

While not dangerous to eat, if sold the chocolates would have lost the Ferrero group €223,500.

A spokesman for the customs agency said the end of every year saw an explosion in the amount of counterfeit products entering the country.

Officers have also seized 100 kg caviar worth €200,000, falsely labelled Scottish and Norwegian salmon, fois gras, chocolates and turkeys.

Photo: Afp/Jacques Demarthon