FIFTEEN boxes of dangerous cosmetics were officially seized last Thursday after the goods arrived at Tilbury in May.

The boxes, which weigh up to 241 kilograms arrived by ship from Lahore, in Pakistan.

Trading Standard Officers from Thurrock Council seized the goods, at the London Container Terminal, and placed a Suspension Notice on them to prevent them from moving on.

The boxes contained products including shampoo, soap, hair treatments, dental products, beauty creams and skin-lightening creams.

Officers took samples and sent them for testing and the Suspension Notice was issued after it was suggested the products may be unsafe.

The test results showed all nine products were non-compliant with cosmetics safety legislation and one, Tibet Snow cream, contained 23 times the permitted level of lead.

It also had no ingredients, instructions, warnings or manufacturer information on the containers.

The goods, which had been destined for a business in Ilford, called CFS Express, in Sandyhill Road, were officially seized last week.

The council’s portfolio holder for public protection, Councillor Phil Smith, said: “Yet again the co-operation between trading standards teams has shown a successful result.

“This type of unregulated goods cannot be allowed to reach the streets of Britain and we’re doing our best to stop it.

“The dangers of heavy metals like lead are well known and the fact that one of these products had 23 times the permitted level is horrifying.”