Operation Vulcan and Manchester Trading Standards seize £40K worth of counterfeit items from Openshaw market

On Sunday 3 March, Operation Vulcan and Manchester Trading Standards attended Smithfield Market in Openshaw following intelligence that counterfeit clothing was being sold.

Officers conducted visits on two of the stalls with support from Smithfield market management.

In total 17 large bags containing counterfeit clothing and footwear worth £6,800 were seized. The second stall was far larger and 69 large bags filled with counterfeit clothes were seized along with 48 large boxes of counterfeit footwear, all valued at £33,360.

All seized items will be repurposed, with suitable items donated to homeless charities; ensuring that nothing goes to waste.

Inspector Dan Cullum of Operation Vulcan said: “I am pleased the joint action on Sunday has taken out yet another counterfeit operation in Manchester. I urge members of the public to steer clear of buying counterfeit items - at best you will waste your money on a sub-standard product, at worst you may purchase something that is harmful. Counterfeit items are unregulated, and the counterfeiters have no regard for your health and safety. You also don’t know what your money is funding – this is often the tip of the iceberg and the people running counterfeit operations are also often involved in far more nefarious crime from human exploitation to drugs. Please spend your hard-earned money elsewhere.”

Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods said: "We are determined to leave no corner of the city untouched in our resolve to rid the streets of counterfeit goods.

"Counterfeit crime is not victimless. It causes genuine and long-lasting harm to our communities and I would ask our residents, even in these difficult times, not to put money into the hands of criminals for the sake of a bargain."