FAKE 'designer' label clothes worth about £300,000 have been seized in Manchester, the city council said.
Counterfeit Armani, D&G and Vivienne Westwood items were amongst the haul, along with Gucci and Chanel sunglasses, Jimmy Choo and Chloe handbags.
Police and trading standards seized the goods after raiding the top floor of a disused office block in Knowsley Street, Cheetham Hill.
There were also piles of counterfeit DVDs containing Hollywood movies and boxes of Lambert and Butler cigarettes.
Councillor Richard Cowell, said: "Despite what those individuals who buy and sell this clothing may think, counterfeiting is a crime which has a knock-on effect on the rest of society, particularly on the economy as it threatens jobs provided by legitimate businesses.
"It is also used to fund other criminal activities and has been linked with organised gangs and terrorism.
"This raid should also serve as a warning to anyone involved in the counterfeit trade that our officers are looking for them and we will prosecute."
A man caught at the scene during the swoop last Friday was interviewed by trading standards officers and further enquiries are now continuing.
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Designer fakes seized
November 14, 2008
Showing comments 1 to 4 and replies | View All
Dennis the Menace, Hyde (15/11/2008 at 01:41)
thaitanium (15/11/2008 at 05:46)
If these "designers" of high class tat have so much money why don't they bring cicvil actions against the people selling the fakes instead of the taxpayer forking out.
I do of course realise that some mey have to sell one of their personal jets and delaying the building of the second 14 bedroom mansion but times are hard.
Now thw question that should be asked is where the real godds and the fakes made.
Allow me to tell you, mostly here in the far East and now the country making the most is Cambodia because the other countries here are too expensive as the greedy workers want more than two US dollars a day.
Really who cares what anyone is wearing, just mugs falling for avdertising propaganda.
Ace Shakespeare , manchester (15/11/2008 at 12:20)
Who do the conterfeit goods have to be good quality most of it is only worn for a few weeks then disguarded to the second hand shops.so what is the point of making this fashion clothing hard wearing? "Wear it a couple of times then throw away"
Pippa, Manchester (15/11/2008 at 16:26)