Labubu dolls make up 90% of fake toys seized at UK border

London: Labubu dolls made up 90% of the £3.5m worth of fake toys seized at the UK border so far this year, according to Home Office data.

Labubu is a quirky monster character created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, and popularised through a collaboration with toy store Pop Mart.

Although they are mainly marketed as adult collectibles and fashion accessories, with some even stating they are only suitable for those over 15 on the box, they are very popular with children.

But nearly three in four seized toys failed safety tests, with the “dangerous fakes” being found with harmful chemicals or choking hazards, according to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

A new campaign from the IPO called Fake Toys, Real Harms is aiming to highlight the dangers of buying counterfeit items.

The IPO found seven in 10 fake toy buyers are motivated by cost, and just 27% cited safety as a purchase consideration.

Rare editions of real Labubus can sell for hundreds of pounds on resale sites.

Demand for the limited toys became so great that Pop Mart paused sales in all its 16 UK shops in May following reports of customers fighting over them. The toys are now sold through an online lottery system.

Of the 259,000 fake toys seized by Border Force in 2025, some 236,000 were counterfeit Labubus.

Nearly half of people who purchased fake toys reported problems, the government body also found.

Issues range from toys breaking almost instantly to unsafe labelling, toxic smells and even reports of illness in children.

“These products have bypassed every safety check the law requires, which is why we’re working with our partners to keep these dangerous fakes out of UK homes,” said Helen Barnham, the IPO’s deputy director of enforcement.

“Child safety must come first, so we’re urging parents – please don’t let your child be the tester.”

The IPO stressed that experts were warning the Labubu trend was “just the tip of the iceberg”.

It warned that counterfeiting criminals target a wide range of popular toys and it was important to be vigilant and aware of what you are purchasing.

Seller: The official place to buy a real Labubu is the Pop Mart store and you will need to enter an online lottery to buy one. If you spot a Labubu for sale at a retailer that isn’t associated with Pop Mart it may be a resale item or it could be fake.

Packaging: Real Labubu boxes have a matt finish and muted colours. Look for a holographic Pop Mart sticker and a QR code.

Teeth: Authentic Labubus have nine triangular teeth, resembling fangs.

Quality: Real Labubus generally have higher quality fur, blush on their cheeks applied by airbrush and embedded glossy eyes and moveable but not wobbly limbs.

Foot detail: Newer Labubu editions have a UV-detectable seal on the right foot. Under UV light, you should see a silhouette of the specific Labubu model.