Two men arrested after police seize counterfeit goods worth half a million pounds in north Manchester

Police have arrested two men after recovering counterfeit goods estimated to be worth around £500000 following a vehicle stop in Cheetham Hill.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police Safer Transport Team stopped a car on Queens Road on Wednesday 25 March after it was seen being driven suspiciously.

Checks showed the vehicle was linked to an ongoing investigation into the distribution of counterfeit goods. Officers searched the two occupants and recovered 12 pairs of Nike branded trainers along with receipts that were later identified as fake due to spelling errors and duplicated product codes.

Around £3000 in cash was also seized after the occupants failed to provide a credible explanation for its origin.

Further enquiries connected the men to two shipping containers at a site on Hobson Street in Failsworth. Searches at those locations uncovered a large quantity of counterfeit designer clothing footwear and perfume. Officers later identified a third container linked to the investigation.

The total value of the seized items across all three containers is estimated at around £500000.

A man in his 50s and a man in his 30s have been arrested on suspicion of money laundering and unauthorised use of trademarks under the Trade Marks Act 1994. They remain in custody while enquiries continue.

Police Inspector Michael Mooney from the Transport Unit said officers acted quickly after identifying suspicious behaviour. He said counterfeit goods can be unsafe and are often linked to wider organised crime.

He added that police remain committed to tackling those involved in the sale and distribution of fake goods and urged anyone with information about organised crime to contact police or Crimestoppers.