Manchester trading standards seize fake designer goods

Tag : shoes y3

A raid by Manchester City Council's Trading Standards officers hasnetted a total of approximately £1 million worth of fakedesigner handbags, jewellery and shoes.

After a tip-off from colleagues in the UK Border Agency, theillicit goods were seized in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester.

The fake goods, were found in two containers and included Nike andY3 trainers, as well as Gucci shoes and handbags. Fake Tiffanyjewellery, along with imitation Chloe and Louis Vuitton handbagswere also uncovered in the raid last Thursday.

They are believed to have a street value of approx £925,000.UK Border Agency officers, operating in the area, who informedcolleagues at Trading Standards, discovered the containers.

Councillor Richard Cowell, Executive Member for Planning and theEnvironment said: "Thanks to colleagues in the UK Border Agency ourofficers have seized almost £1 million pounds worth of fakegoods.

"Manchester City Council will not allow these cheap imitations tocontinually flood our streets, cheating innocent shoppers. We willcontinue to work closely with our colleagues in the UK BorderAgency on other similar operations."

Linda Paul, UKBA Border Force North, said: "UKBA officers routinelycheck for illicit contraband goods including fake designerclothing, dangerous toys, non-duty paid tobacco, alcohol, and fuelwhich might be traded illegally in the UK.

"We work with HM Revenue & Customs, police, trading standardsand other law enforcement agencies to combine resources, shareintelligence and demonstrate how joint working can help protect thepublic and honest shopkeepers from illegal competition, by removingthese illicit goods from the supply chain.
"This exercise is an example of the action we take across theregion involving deliberate and organized attempts to defraud boththe Revenue and the public."

"UKBA play a vital role in the fight to prevent contraband goodsbeing smuggled into the UK and in protecting our communities fromthe violence and corruption that always accompany this illegaltrade.

"Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linkedto smuggling should call the Customs 24 hour hotline 0800 59 5000."