Iran warfare causes rise in faux condoms, placing Brits’ well being in danger
Brits’ health is being put at risk by a surge in counterfeit condoms after the Strait of Hormuz closure drove prices up, with EU officials seizing 200,000+ fake “Johnnies” smuggled from China
A surge in fake condoms due to the Strait of Hormuz closure is putting Brits’ health at risk(Image: Getty Images)
A surge in fake condoms due to the Strait of Hormuz closure is putting Brits’ health at risk, it is claimed. More than 200,000 dodgy Johnnies have been seized in Europe by EU officials.
The condoms, which came from China, have been picked up being sold in countries such as Spain. Health boffins say it puts British tourists at risk of sexually transmitted infections or unwanted pregnancies.
It comes after prices of condoms surged due to the shipping lane being shut. The EU’s Anti-Fraud Office (Olaf) revealed last week the fakes were smuggled in labelled as toys to dodge safety checks. Olaf chief Petr Klement, said: “Counterfeit condoms are dangerous.
“They are untested, uncontrolled and unsafe.” They were sold across Europe bearing the name and logo of a well-known brand, making them hard to spot as fakes.
UK sexual health retailer Condoms.uk: Discreet delivery on the brands you trust said with STIs on the rise holidaymakers should take their own condoms with them.
A spokesman said: “Cheap, fake alternatives become much more tempting to unsuspecting shoppers when the genuine product gets harder to find and more expensive.”
The crisis has been sparked by a chain reaction linking Middle East conflict, global shipping chaos and organised criminal gangs cashing in on shortages.
It began in mid-2026 when military escalation in the region led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
With huge volumes of global trade and manufacturing supplies usually passing through the waterway, the shutdown sent supply chains into meltdown, causing delays, shortages and soaring transport costs.
Across Europe, that fed into sharp price rises for everyday branded products. The closure has also triggered a severe global food security crisis due to collapsing fertiliser shipments and has pushed oil prices toward a potential $200 (£150) per barrel.
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