A UK record-breaking haul of fake goods from around Cheetham Hill’s notorious ‘counterfeit street’ area has been seized by police.
As part of what is Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) ongoing ‘Operation Vulcan’ – which is a mission to crackdown on the sale of counterfeit and hit the finances of the gangs operating out of the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways areas of Manchester – officers set out on what was the UK’s largest police operation to tackle the counterfeit trade earlier this week.
And it turns out it wasn’t just the largest in terms of the police operation itself, as it was also record-breaking in the amount of goods seized.
It comes after search warrants were obtained following what GMP called a “covert operation” and thanks to “intelligence from the community and partners” – with a combination of over 100 police officers and multiple agencies working together to tackle their “largest job to date” and raid 207 shipping containers.
#OpVulcan | Latest counterfeit seizure in Cheetham Hill breaks UK record and ranks amongst largest globally.
Police have seized over 580 tonnes of counterfeit items, a record haul which will have cost the criminals a staggering £870 million.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) July 3, 2023
“Monumental quantities” of counterfeit clothes, drugs, illicit tobacco, Nitrous Oxide canisters, and counterfeit vapes from a storage unit to tackle their largest job to date, raiding 207 shipping containers. tucked away on the outskirts of Cheetham Hill were seized, GMP confirmed.
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Over 580 tonnes of counterfeit items were seized, which equated to a record-breaking £870 million.
Not only was this the largest seizure of counterfeit goods in UK history, but GMP says it’s believed to be one of the largest single seizures worldwide too.
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An “intensive investigation” is now confirmed to be underway by police to “trace where the items originated” and to “ensure those involved are arrested”.
Police seize record-breaking £870m worth of counterfeit goods in latest Cheetham Hill raids / Credit: GMP
Greater Manchester Police has confirmed this was the police force’s “largest raid to date”.
Detective Inspector Christian Julien, one of Operation Vulcan’s specialist officers, also said this latest seizure elevates GMP “onto the global stage”, and places the force in the top three worldwide for a single seizure of counterfeit items.
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“I hope that our work so far has shown the true scale of the counterfeit trade in the UK, the majority of which was on our doorstep here in Manchester,” DI Julien added.
“It’s important to recognise the serious impact of sophisticated and large-scale counterfeit operations like this, and I would like to take this opportunity to remind members of the public of its links to serious organised crime.
“It isn’t a bargain so please be under no illusions – this type of crime is not victimless.”
It was believed to be one of the largest single seizures of worldwide / Credit: GMP
He added that criminals are making “vast amounts of money” from the trade, which is being “funnelled into fuelling further criminality, exploitation, and misery”.
DI Julien went on to thank all officers from across GMO and partner agencies who came out to support the operation for “diligently contributing” to the gathering of intelligence, and the execution of the raids – adding that Operation Vulcan is a partnership effort “at its heart”.
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“This may be our largest raid to date,” DI Julien went on the conclude.
“But we must continue to build on these efforts to identify the criminal networks behind this activity whose only concern is making a profit, no matter what the cost is to the public.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Police appeal after Salford woman, 95, threatened by window cleaner in her own home
Emily Sergeant
Police are appealing for information after an elderly woman was threatened inside her own home during an attempted robbery.
Around 11am yesterday morning (27 January), officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Salford division responded to reports that a woman had cash demanded from her at an address on Belcroft Drive in Little Hulton.
It is believed that a man entered the property after offering to clean the woman’s – who police have confirmed is 95-years-old – windows, before tying her hands together, and then demanding her cash and purse.
The man’s efforts were disrupted when another woman who knew the victim arrived at the house, and thankfully because of this, no injuries were reported and the victim is being supported by officers.
The man fled the scene, and no arrests have been made at this time.
This is why police are now appealing to the public for any information that they may have that could help with their investigation while extensive enquires are ongoing – including any CCTV, dashcam, or doorbell footage from around the area at the time.
Investigators attended the scene and gathered evidence, which is currently being assessed and acted upon, but are also keen to speak to anyone who saw anything ‘suspicious’.
The man who committed the offence was described as white male, approximately in his late 60s or early 70s, with short mousy brown hair combed back, no facial hair, glasses, appeared well-kempt, and was wearing a dark raincoat jacket, jeans, and dark-coloured shoes.
“This was a vile incident in which a woman was tied up and threatened, and we are determined to locate the man responsible,” commented Detective Inspector Paul Davies, from GMP’s Salford district.
“Thankfully, this was not a more serious situation and we commend the brave actions of the lady’s friend who confronted the man and called officers. As we progress this investigation, we are appealing for anyone with any information to please come forward.”
Can you help? Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 or the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1082 of 27/01/26, or alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – GMP
News
NHS launches new AI and robot cancer detection pilot offering ‘glimpse into future’
Emily Sergeant
The NHS has launched a ‘trailblazing’ new AI and robot pilot to help spot cancers sooner.
Patients who are facing suspected lung cancer could get answers sooner under the new pilot that makes use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic technology to help doctors reach hard-to-detect cancers earlier, and all without with fewer tests too.
At the moment, patients are faced with weeks of repeat scans and procedures to come to a diagnosis.
But this could soon be replaced with a single, half-hour cancer biopsy – reducing prolonged uncertainty, and avoiding more invasive surgery.
According to the NHS, the new approach uses AI software to rapidly analyse lung scans and flag small lumps that are most likely to be cancerous, before a robotic camera is then used to guide biopsy tools through the airways with much greater precision than standard techniques.
A new NHS pilot using AI and robotic technology will help doctors reach hard-to-detect lung cancers earlier.
Weeks of scans and procedures could be replaced with a single biopsy, reducing uncertainty and avoiding more invasive surgery.
The robot can reach nodules as small as 6mm – which is around the size of a grain of rice – that are hidden deep in the lung and are often deemed too risky or difficult to access using existing methods, and once AI has highlighted higher-risk areas, doctors can then take a precise tissue sample, which is sent to specialist laboratories and reviewed by expert cancer teams to confirm or rule out cancer.
The NHS’s top cancer doctor hailed the pilot – which is currently being carried out at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust – as ‘a glimpse of the future of cancer detection’.
“Waiting to find out if you might have cancer is incredibly stressful for patients and their families,” admitted Professor Peter Johnson, who is NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Cancer.
The NHS has launched a new AI and robot cancer detection pilot that’s offering a ‘glimpse into future’ / Credit: rawpixel
“Our lung cancer screening programme means that we are picking up more cancers at an early stage than ever, and by bringing AI and robotics together in this trailblazing NHS pilot, we’re bringing in the very latest technology to give clinicians a clearer look inside the lungs and support faster, more accurate biopsies.
“This is a glimpse of the future of cancer detection.
“Innovation like this is exactly how we can help diagnose more cancers faster, so treatment can be most effective, and why the NHS continues to lead the way in bringing new technology safely into frontline care.”
Emily Sergeant -
4th July 2023 
