Dutch Customs seized 400,000 fake Labubu toys in 6 months, Mostly at Schiphol Airport

Dutch customs officers have confiscated around 400,000 fake Labubu dolls since March, the NOS has reported. A total of around 250,000 counterfeit versions of the handcrafted plush toys were discovered at Schiphol airport, with the remaining 150,000 seized at other locations in the country.

The fake dolls are often called “Lafufu’s.” They tend to be cheaper and of a lesser quality. The original Labubu toys feature a QR code that verifies their authenticity. The fake products can also be identified by incorrectly spelled text on the packaging or label.

Lafufu dolls pose a choking hazard for young children, as their feet and eyes can easily detach. Additionally, harmful chemical substances are reportedly used in the production of these counterfeit toys, according to NOS.

Labubu characters are based on the work by Hong Kong artist and storyteller Kasing Lung, 53, who grew up in Utrecht. His family moved to the Netherlands when he was seven years old, and his teachers encouraged him to learn Dutch by reading Jip and Janneke, and other picture books. That developed into a love for reading Northern European and Scandinavian folklore, which he tapped into later in life when in 2015 he launched his book series, The Monsters, and the Labubu creatures.

Pop Mart, a toy company from China, is the official manufacturer and seller of Labubu. The plush toys usually cost around 20 euros, although some exclusive models can cost hundreds of euros.

Labubu’s popularity surged after the toys were spotted hanging from the bag of Lalisa Manoban, a member of the South Korean pop group Blackpink, in 2024. The trend was further boosted when celebrities like Rihanna and Kim Kardashian were seen with the dolls.

In China, the so-called “blind box” packaging of Labubu dolls has drawn criticism. These packages conceal which version of the doll is inside, leading many to liken it to gambling. As a result, children under eight years old are prohibited from purchasing Labubu dolls in China, and there are calls for stricter enforcement of this rule.

The illegal Lafufu dolls seized by customs are either destroyed or recycled after inspection