Police raided a Counterfeit Street shop 'masquerading' as a fast-food takeaway.
Four men were arrested after a counterfeit shop, disguised as a takeaway, was busted by Greater Manchester Police (GMP). The men were 'on their lunch break' yesterday (June 9) when they were disturbed by the raid, said the force.
Despite working in what appeared to be a takeaway in Bury New Road, Cheetham Hill, the men weren’t eating food made in their own business and had instead gone to another takeaway. "Besides being extremely unhygienic, the business wasn’t a fully functioning takeaway: it was a front for yet another counterfeit goods store," explained GMP.
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"Above the takeaway, officers discovered a large counterfeit shop and seized numerous items including clothes, shoes, perfumes, and jewellery as well as a quantity of cash. The pre-planned warrant was executed after intelligence was gathered that suggested the innocuous takeaway was in fact linked to the counterfeit goods trade as well as more serious criminality," said a spokesperson for GMP.
The four men, aged 43, 42, and two aged 32, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit trademark offences and were taken into police custody for questioning. Detective Sergeant Matthew Donnelly of Operation Vulcan, which aims to crackdown on counterfeit stores in Cheetham Hill, said: “I hope this warrant sends a clear message to the final few remaining counterfeit shops in Cheetham Hill that there will be no hiding in plain sight.
“The response from partners was once again fantastic and with help from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Manchester City Council, we were able to issue various closure notices to the entire building owing to serious concerns around its safety and food hygiene issues.
“As we’ve said all along, counterfeit goods are only the tip of the iceberg and these shops are often involved in more serious criminality that blights surrounding communities.”
“The building was also totally unsafe and puts anyone entering it at risk. The criminals running these enterprises have no regard for your safety and I would urge you to spend your hard-earned money elsewhere with people who deserve it.”
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