Some of the world's most exclusive and iconic fashion labels have been seen on many shop rails in a notorious corner of Manchester. But the Strangeways shops that previously flourished along 'counterfeit street' were never selling the real thing.
Last autumn, Greater Manchester Police launched an assault on the counterfeit trade at Bury New Road and Great Ducie Street known as Operation Vulcan, with dozens of shops closed down since. Now, the force uncovered a warehouse in Cheetham Hill where fake designer badges were being added to unbranded items.
As if by fate, the Vulcan team rumbled the illegal operation on World Anti-Counterfeiting Day, which took place yesterday (June 8). Acting on intelligence from HMRC, officers raided the large badging factory and discovered more than two million pounds' worth of counterfeit items.
