Operation Vulcan take on the suppliers of counterfeit goods

A major joint operation launched this week has led police to over 150 shipping containers on the outskirts of Cheetham Hill, housing tonnes of counterfeit items destined for the streets of Manchester and further afield.

With the counterfeit goods shops on Bury New Road almost gone, the team are focusing their efforts on the criminals trying to fly below the radar - a safe distance from the brazen criminality on what was once called ‘counterfeit street’. Or so they thought, until Operation Vulcan closed in on the huge shipping container yard used to hide masses of fake goods.

Supported by specialist officers and search dogs from across the force, police are ramping up efforts to cripple the supply chain of fake goods and in doing so, cutting off the funds of criminal gangs. Through multi agency work, police have been able to link the shipping containers raided this week to the counterfeit crime on Bury New Road.

The search has only just begun, but in the last 48 hours, Operation Vulcan have seized over 70 tonnes of counterfeit items from the containers. All the items are now on the way to our partner, Lighthouse Security, to be repurposed and recycled into sustainable items – ensuring nothing goes to waste and that people in need can benefit.

Detective Inspector Christian Julien, one of Operation Vulcan’s specialist officers said: “There’s an undeniable link between the counterfeit trade and organised crime. It’s crucial we continue to tackle it before the funds from these sales can fuel further crime and misery in our communities, and this warrant will have made a huge impact on the criminal network and their pockets, stripping them of millions of pounds of profit.

“This operation will not only disrupt the criminals using lock-up facilities to store their illicit property, but with the help of colleagues at CSI, it’s supplying a wealth of information and forensics that will be fully investigated as we continue to target those higher up the supply chain.”

Tim Jenson, Owner of Lighthouse Security said: “Working with Operation Vulcan I really feel like we’ve been able to revolutionise the way police and partners tackle the counterfeit trade.

“Previously, counterfeit items seized by police in raids may have gone to landfill or gone to waste - but I knew we could do better. My team have taken a holistic view, so where appropriate, items can be repurposed, rebranded, and donated to charities and homeless shelters. The opportunities are endless. Items deemed to be unsafe are processed and recycled. Even the cardboard can be processed and used for livestock bedding. Other items can be shredded or processed and used for pet bedding. Nothing goes to waste.”