More than 20 people rescued from counterfeit shop in Cheetham Hill
Police were alerted by a panicked boy whose mother was among those trapped inside
Police have rescued more than 20 people locked inside a counterfeit shop in Manchester.
At around 3pm on Tuesday 3 January whilst officers were patrolling the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways area, they were stopped by a panicked boy who said his mum had been locked inside a building on Harris Street.
The shutters of the shop had been closed after so-called 'spotters' had alerted the illegitimate store owners of the approaching officers.
Police then forced entry and rescued the mum and a further 20 people who had been trapped inside.
A subsequent search of the building led officers to discover over ÂŁ8,000 cash and two large floors containing counterfeit clothing. These items will shortly be recycled and repurposed into household items, with anything unsafe being destroyed.
Two men, aged 26 and 28 were arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment and conspiracy to commit trademark offences. Their arrest led to three further locations being searched which resulted in a further ÂŁ5000 cash being recovered and a large amount of counterfeit clothing being seized. Both males were interviewed and have been bailed with conditions.
Detective Superintendent Neil Blackwood who is leading Operation Vulcan said: “We’ve heard whispers that the illegitimate shop owners thought Op Vulcan was just a short-lived operation over Christmas, and that in the New Year, all would be forgotten. I hope this weeks action will demonstrate that Operation Vulcan is here to stay, and my team and I will be relentlessly pursuing anyone who decides to commit criminality in this area.
“The illicit money made from the counterfeit items funds serious organised crime, and we will do everything in our power to strip criminals of their finances and reinvest it back into communities across Manchester.
“This latest seizure will make a dent in finances of the serious organised crime gangs operating in the area, but I’d like to take this time to again emphasise the danger that members of the public are in when they shop here."