More than 20,000 toys - illegal and possibly dangerous cheap replicas of top-selling brands - were taken by trading standards officers from two warehouses in Lower Broughton.
Goods from the warehouses were found on sale in Bury, Blackburn, and Liverpool. Prices for the goods ranged from £1.99 to £15 and the average price was about £5.
They are being tested as it is feared they could be dangerous because of their poor quality.
The counterfeiters were hoping to cash in on a shortage of toys for the festive season due to the world's largest toymaker, Mattel, having to take millions off the shelves. Among items withdrawn by Mattel were Barbie sets because of concerns over excessive levels of lead paint. Fake Barbie dolls were in the haul seized from the Salford warehouses.
It is believed the fakes were made in China and included Barbie, Spiderman, Bratz, Teletubbies, Dr Who, Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman and Transformers. Also seized were iPods and Gameboy games.
Paula Flynn, principal trading standards officer for Salford, said: "This is a very significant seizure. We believe it will cut off a supply to the north west and possibly beyond. Tests are being carried out to determine if the toys are unsafe.
"The information on the boxes is in appalling English and there are no `CE' marks - which they should have by law."
The CE mark is a declaration that the product complies with essential safety and health rules.
The inquiry started after officers in Bury carried out checks on market stalls there and discovered that counterfeit toys were on sale.
By speaking to traders they were able to trace the supply chain to the Salford warehouses. It is believed that two separate suppliers using premises almost next door to each other were involved.
Counterfeit Duracell batteries were also recovered and unsafe mini motos.
Peter Astley, for Trading Standards North West, said: "It's not just the fact that the toys are not genuine, we currently have no knowledge of how safe they are." Tweet
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People who buy them from market stalls at cheap prices know they arent genuine, they cant be that stupid. Anyway with the supermarkets using toys as a loss leader on the run upto Xmas anyway you can get the genuine thing for the same price as it is.
I'm pleased that these toys have been seized as no doubt they are made by childre in a sweat shop overseas, unlike those sold in reputable stores. Oh, hang on a minute...
We all want our kids to have lots of presants at christmas, but we also want our kids to be safe. Hard times resort to buying cheap, fake & illegal toys. So, what do you want? Your kids to safe from harm or lots of presants at christmas? Hopefully you choose the latter! At least these ones won't be going to kids.
Correction. My comment should have read 'I hope you didn't choose the latter!'
Lead found in genuine toys, and then a huge follow up of fakes, this can't be a coincidence. Yes some people will put childrens health at risk to get rich.
Abhorrant and disgusting.