CHRISTMAS shoppers are being warned to steer clear of traders selling counterfeit goods after a lorry load of fake clothing, perfume, handbags and electronic products was seized.
Manchester City Council trading standards officers, working with Greater Manchester police, seized counterfeit goods with an estimated retail value of £1.25 million when they raided retail and wholesale premises in the Strangeways area of Cheetham Hill on December 16-17.
I realise that many people are struggling at the moment, but buying counterfeit items is not the answer.
The operation, intended to disrupt the illicit trade in these products during the run-up to Christmas, also included trading standards officers from other North West authorities and was supported by the Intellectual Property Office.
These included fake Ugg boots, Barbour jackets, Paul's Boutique handbags, Adidas leisurewear and Dr Dre headphones.
Beats HeadphonesTwelve people were arrested during the raids and are being investigated by trading standards and the police for counterfeiting and immigration offences. Fliers were also handed out to shoppers during the operation, warning shoppers to avoid buying counterfeit items.
They warn that counterfeiting often funds other types of organised crime such as drug dealing and the supply of guns, as well as terrorist organisations, while counterfeiters do not pay taxes and are involved in benefit fraud.
The fliers also warn that fake children’s toys could be dangerous, fake mobile phone batteries and chargers can explode, fake alcohol is laced with methanol and fake cosmetics often contain illegal substances.
Cllr Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council executive member for the environment, said: "This operation demonstrates the scale of the problem and I would like to praise our trading standards officers for taking these items off Manchester’s streets.
"I realise that many people are struggling at the moment, but buying counterfeit items is not the answer. They are often shoddy products and there is nobody you can go to if anything goes wrong with them, but more importantly these traders undermine legitimate businesses and threaten jobs.”
Superintendent Vanessa Jardine from GMP's North Manchester division said: "We work closely with our partners in trading standards to bring criminals involved in dealing stolen and counterfeit goods to justice and will continue to target them in the coming months.
"People can help us by not only refusing to buy stolen and counterfeit goods but also reporting people involved in this criminal activity either directly to us on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
