One of 'world's biggest hauls' of scam goods discovered in UK shipping container
Detectives have seized more than 500 tonnes of fake goods in what's been dubbed one of the most prolific hauls in police history.
Some £87million' worth of fake designer clothes and drugs were discovered inside 207 shipping containers in Manchester.
Police say it's the largest find of its kind in European history in the last 20 years, and one of the biggest in the world.
It took a team of about 100 people two weeks to break into the containers and sweep through them collecting all the illicit items, which also included counterfeit vapes, illegal tobacco and nitrous oxide canisters.
The Operation Vulcan bust was prompted by intelligence from both the community and undercover work, and Greater Manchester Police said a major probe was now underway to trace the items and bring the criminals behind it to justice.
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CSI, police dogs and counterfeit experts were drafted into the industrial yard "tucked away" on the outskirts of Cheetham Hill, north of the city centre, as they combed through the containers.
It took 100 people two weeks to break into and comb through all the shipping containers (GMP)A senior detective leading the case said it was the force's "largest raid to date" as he urged the public against buying suspected fake goods - the trade for which was fuelling "further criminality, exploitation and misery".
Detective Inspector Christian Julien said: “This latest seizure by Operation Vulcan elevates Greater Manchester Police onto the global stage, placing us in the top three worldwide for a single seizure of counterfeit items.
“I hope that our work so far has shown the true scale of the counterfeit trade in the UK, the majority of which was on our doorstep here in Manchester.
“It’s important to recognise the serious impact of sophisticated and large-scale counterfeit operations like this and I would like to take this opportunity to remind members of the public of its links to serious organised crime.
Officers from different departments were joined by counterfeit experts for the mammoth raid (Greater Manchester Police / SWNS)"It isn’t a bargain so please be under no illusions - this type of crime is not victimless.
“Criminals are making vast amounts of money from this trade which is being funnelled into fuelling further criminality, exploitation, and misery not just in Manchester, but across the world.
He added: “This may be our largest raid to date, but we must continue to build on these efforts to identify the criminal networks behind this activity whose only concern is making a profit, no matter what the cost is to the public.”
Phil Lewis, Director General at the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, described the trade for fake goods as a "growing menace" putting honest businesses out of work.
More than 580 tonnes of goods were seized, causing a £87million loss to criminals (Greater Manchester Police / SWNS)“This is one of the largest recorded inland seizures of counterfeit goods worldwide and has prevented an enormous financial gain for the organised crime groups involved," he said.
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“Counterfeiting is a growing menace that destroys communities and legitimate businesses. It causes an estimated 86,000 job losses per year, and denies the country of much-needed money for vital public services, and presents evermore dangerous products on the UK market.
“The exemplary work Operation Vulcan and its partners are doing is vital in counteracting this growing national threat."
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