Police busted a huge warehouse in Cheetham Hill and seized £1.2MILLION-worth of fakes inside.
Specialist officers on GMP's Operation Vulcan raided the premises on Great Ducie Street yesterday (Wednesday) after receiving intelligence it was being used to supply to counterfeit shops in the area. Officers said the items seized from inside were worth more than £1m.
They used a conveyor belt after bagging and boxing up the fakes to move them into waiting vehicles. Police said the bust will 'make a huge dent in the supply chain by cutting off the head of the snake'.
READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community
More than 15 departments, teams, organisations and partner representatives were involved in the raid - including from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Intellectual Property Office, Trading Standards, Brand Experts and Border Force. The building was also issued with a prohibition order after fire crews raised concerns over its safety.
Inspector Andy Torkington said: "The network of counterfeit stores in Cheetham Hill might seem chaotic and disorganised but this is far from the truth. The latest warrant demonstrates that these stores are well funded and well supplied and it's big business for organised crime groups who have been operating out of the area.
"This warrant is an opportunity to make a huge dent in the supply chain by cutting off the head of the snake. I hope it sends a message to any remaining counterfeit stores in the area who persist in trading to pack up now or face the consequences.
"Operation Vulcan is here to stay and we will continue making it unsustainable for criminal businesses to exist here and will work shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to re-build the area into a thriving community where people feel safe.”
Neil Fairlamb, strategic director of neighbourhoods for Manchester council said: "The work that has taken place throughout Operation Vulcan has shown the scope and scale of the counterfeit industry. It is huge enterprise, one which has had an incredibly negative impact on our communities.
"By striking a blow against this criminal supply chain we will succeed in forcing these traders out for good."
The Intellectual Property Office’s Deputy Director of Intelligence and Law Enforcement, Marcus Evans said: "Criminal networks are seeking to exploit consumers and communities for their own financial gain through the trade in illegal counterfeits – with absolutely no regard for the quality or safety of the items being sold, which are often dangerous and defective.
"Such items can cause genuine harm to the people who buy and use them, as well as those workers often exploited during their production. As well as helping to sustain serious and organised crime, the sale of counterfeit goods has been estimated to contribute to over 80,000 job loses each year in the UK by diverting funds away from legitimate traders and into the hands of criminals.
"We are pleased to support the ongoing activity by Greater Manchester Police to clamp down on this illegal activity and help protect the public, as we continue to work with partners across in industry, local government, and law enforcement to help empower consumers and raise awareness of the damage these goods cause."
Operation Vulcan was launched last Autumn to tackle organised crime and counterfeiting in the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways areas.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
- 'Panicking' murder accused, 19, searched 'how much time do you serve for killing someone', jury told
- 'Abusive and controlling' rapist jailed after victims' families witnessed 'red flag behaviour'
- Manchester Airport has the 'UK's best food'... apparently
- Things to do in Greater Manchester over King's Coronation weekend
- Manchester's lost amusement arcade cafe sold 'the best' sandwiches and toasties with coleslaw 'to die for'
