Police blitz Manchester market and raid stalls after tip-off

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Police seized more than £40,000 worth of fake designer clothes, shoes and bags from a market in east Manchester. Officers visited two stalls on Smithfield Market in Openshaw on Sunday (March 3) after they 'received intelligence' that fake gear was being sold.

At one stall, they seized 17 large bags of counterfeit clothing and footwear - which was worth around £6,800. At another stall, officers seized 69 huge bags of fake clothing and 48 large boxes of counterfeit footwear.

This would be worth around £33,360, police said. READ NEXT: Lanxess issues statement as investigation launched after chemical leak in Trafford Park The items will now be repurposed, with any suitable clothes, shoes or bags set to be donated to homeless charities.

Police urged shoppers to stay away from buying fake designer clothing and not 'waste money on something that is harmful'. Inspector Dan Cullum of Operation Vulcan at GMP, who carried out the crackdown Manchester Trading Standards and with the support of management at Smithfield Market, said: "I am pleased the joint action on Sunday has taken out yet another counterfeit operation in Manchester. "I urge members of the public to steer clear of buying counterfeit items - at best you will waste your money on a sub-standard product, at worst you may purchase something that is harmful.