Hundreds of fake Chanel and Louis Vuitton handbags were seized in Cheetham Hill as part of efforts to stamp out counterfeit crime.
Manchester City Council has told of how 737 fake bags were identified and removed by Trading Standards officers from the premises of MH Import & Export Ltd on Derby Street on 8 May 2019.
Many of the bags were concealed behind other items on the shelves.
This was the most recent of several interventions between the company, the Council and brand representatives, as in November 2017, the council advised the company about its responsibilities not to sell counterfeit goods, and in January 2019, it was contacted by Chanel about selling goods which may bear their trademark.
These warnings were not heeded, however, and as a result, the company’s director Hakan Yazar, 43, was interviewed by council officers in December 2019.
Yazar admitted that he was responsible for the ordering of stock, but claimed that he did not know anything about trade marks, that he did not remember receiving a letter from the Manchester City Council, and that, following a cease and desist letter from Chanel, took counterfeit products off the shelves.
He also claimed that he intended to destroy the bags – but had trouble in doing so.
737 fake bags were identified and removed by Trading Standards officers / Credit: Manchester City Council
At a hearing at Manchester Magistrates Court on Friday 27 August, Yazar pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Trade Mark Act, 1994, and was subsequently sentenced to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.
He was also fined £500, was ordered to pay costs of £1,250 and a victim surcharge of £90, and a forfeiture order was made for the counterfeit products.
“Very often in cases where counterfeit goods are being sold there are no excuses for the criminal behaviour taking place, this case was no different,” explained Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar – Executive Member for Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council.
“Not once but twice Yazar was warned about his activities yet continued to display and sell fake items in his shop.
“The counterfeit goods trade is not a victimless crime. There are strong links behind the practice to organised crime and this is a link we are determined to sever [but] thanks to the diligent work of our enforcement officers and legal team, we have been able to secure this prosecution and I am incredibly grateful for their efforts.”
MH Import & Export Ltd has since gone into liquidation.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
News
Urgent appeal issued following serious road traffic collision involving motorcyclist on M60
Emily Sergeant
An urgent appeal has been issued following a serious road traffic collision on the M60.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are appealing for information and dash-cam footage, as well as urging witnesses to come forward, after a motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries during a collision on the M60 this past Saturday (12 July).
Shortly after 1:40pm, police were called a report of a collision involving a motorbike on the anti-clockwise side of the motorway, between junctions 25 and 24.
When patrols responded and arrived on the scene, they found a man in his 50s – believed to be the motorcyclist – with life-threatening injuries, and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment in an air ambulance, with his family being informed in the process.
An urgent appeal has been issued following a serious road traffic collision involving motorcyclist on the M60 / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The M60 was closed in one direction, between Bredbury and Denton, following the crash from around 2:30pm onwards, and all traffic was diverted while investigations were ongoing.
GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is in the process of conducting enquiries, and at this time, it isn’t believed that any other vehicle was involved in this incident.
This is why police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who has dash-cam footage, to get in on contact.
Police have also thanked the members of the public who stopped by the roadside to give the man initial first aid before emergency services arrived.
Police issue update on Oasis arrests and fence-jumpers
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester Police have shared an update on the arrests made at the opening two nights of Oasis Live ’25.
More than 100,000 people have flocked up to Heaton Park on Friday and Saturday evening for the first two of five Oasis reunion shows.
And largely, things have gone without a hitch, with only 15 arrests made so far.
The majority of these are arrests on suspicion of fraud, with five men and a woman in three separate incidents attempting to access the Oasis gig with fake accreditation.
Another man was arrests on suspicion of assaulting a member of security staff.
Two more men were arrested on suspicion of assault – a section 18 inside the Oasis gig at Heaton Park, and another for a section 47 outside.
Police have also said that ‘a number of people’ have attempted to access the gigs without tickets, with a perimeter gate breached on Saturday night, but ‘failed to do so’.
Five drones which breached airspace restrictions were seized on Friday.
A Section 34 Dispersal Order, which gives officers the power to direct individuals to leave a specified area and not return for 48 hours, has been in place for each night of the Oasis concerts so far.
This will be re-assessed before each concert this week, with the Gallagher brothers back at Heaton Park on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
GMP around Manchester ahead of the Oasis reunion shows. Credit: GMP
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle said: “We have been planning for these events for several months, working with partners and the organisers to make sure everyone can enjoy the concerts safely. To that end, I’m pleased to say that the first two Oasis homecoming events have been a success.
“What has been especially pleasing is how more than 100,000 people have enjoyed these iconic events safely and without trouble.
“We will have a highly visible presence in and around Heaton Park, and across the city, to ensure the next three events continue to pass safely.
“A number of people without tickets attempted to gain entry through a perimeter gate on Saturday night but failed to do so.
Credit: The Manc GroupCredit: Tiktok benwalkerofficialPolice say ‘just 15’ arrests made at Oasis so far
“We continue to support the event organisers and the local authority with their plans preventing any unauthorised access to the arena site.
“While arrests have thankfully been minimal, we have had to take some suspects to custody, including one after an alleged assault on a steward on Saturday night. We will not tolerate any abuse of anyone doing their job.
“On Friday night we also dealt with a number of breaches of airspace restrictions involving drones where our officers seized five drones and spoke to two other pilots.
“We continue to have airspace restrictions in place on the nights of the concerts and anyone found breaching the one-and-a-half-mile restriction zone could face prosecution.”
The Manc -
1st September 2021 
