Organised crime gangs, money laundering, firearms, drugs and modern day slavery all link to one five mile street in Manchester.
As well as a hub for organised crime, the street is trawling with emporiums full of fake products, from clothing, to bags, to shoes and even electronics and perfumes.
Bury New Road has been dubbed ‘Counterfeit Street’ by locals.
The counterfeit industry is thought to cost the UK £8 billion a year and some experts estimate that a third of that alone comes from this notorious stretch of road located outside Strangeways Prison.
And police have finally pledged to clean up ‘Counterfeit Street’, once and for all.
Describing Bury New Road as a "disgrace", Chief Constable Stephen Watson of the Greater Manchester Police revealed details of Operation Vulcan, a brand new clamp down on the crime-infested street that will see 24/7 police patrols and stricter rules to ensure building safety, including demolition when necessary.
The Chief Constable ensured the "full-force" of the GMP would crack down on gangs operating in the area. And for many legitimate business owners operating on the street, these changes can’t come soon enough.
One small business owner , speaking anonymously to the Manchester Evening News, said: "I'm sick and tired of it, it’s getting worse."
The honest merchant who has been operating on the street for over nine years claims crimes literally take place on their doorstep.
"They (the drug dealers) stand right outside my door. I spoke to one of them the other week. He threatened to burn the shop down," they said.
"They're nasty people. It's not good for the customers and it's not good for the businesses.
"Come down here after 12pm and you'll see them all (the drug users). They get surrounded by dealers, they're fighting for their custom. The police do f*** all about it. They come at the wrong time."
Previous attempts to crack down on crime in the area have seen shops raided and thousands of fake products seized. But, where one shop is shut down, another opens in its place and it's clear today that these efforts to curb counterfeits have barely had an effect.
But as Manchester City Centre continues to develop and expand into a bustling and modern area, with a brand new £93 million campus for Manchester College and new flats appearing, people are calling for more long-lasting solutions.
Recently, reports have emerged of students and guests at the Travelodge next door to the new campus, which now lies where Boddington's Brewer used to be, only yards from the Bury New Street, being harassed.
Women have reported being sexually harassed by dealers and spotters in the area - men employed to entice people into the counterfeit shops and alert those inside to police raids.
One business owner revealed that this kind of intimidation happens frequently, telling the M.E.N that women are reluctant to work for him as they worry about walking to and from work alone. He said: "The quicker they close (the counterfeit traders) down the better. It's intimidating.”
He continued: “We've had a few girls not turn up for an interview once they realised where we are based. One girl's mum called me up and said she wasn't going to let her take the job because she was worried about her daughter walking to work.
"But the city centre is spreading out here now. You can't have all this here with that development going on. Students are getting harassed at the bus stop. It's got to go.”
Another genuine business owner also welcomed a new tougher approach, admitting that his biggest concern wasn’t the counterfeit stories, but the drugs, claiming: “People are dying from the tablets they're selling”.
He also questioned what would happen to those running good and honest businesses when this clamp down on crime finally begins.
He said: “But what will happen to the legitimate businesses? The vape shops, the cafes - they're all legit. What's going to happen to them?"
Chief Constable Stephen Watson said about the new project to clean Bury New Road: "We can bring some legitimate economic life back in that area for the people who live there."
Det Supt Neil Blackwood, who is heading Operation Vulcan said: "Op Vulcan is a relentless multi-agency operation to rid Cheetham Hill of the serious organised crime that has infected the area for decades. For too long, these gangs have felt invincible and out of reach, preying on vulnerable victims and bringing violent crime to our city. GMP will no longer stand by and let this happen.
"Working with our partners, local businesses and members of the community, we will revitalise Cheetham Hill, making it a safe and thriving place you’re proud to live and work in. Watch this space as GMP and partners take Operation Vulcan forwards together."
