Bolton: Man worked with 'Pablo Escobar' on counterfeit goods

Moshtagh Hashimi, 47 of Sandyhills, Bolton and Imran Jabarkhail, 21 sold fake goods from a Manchester takeaway at the behest of 40-year-old Fraidon Wadood, who called himself “Pablo.”

All three were sentenced last week after City of London Police raided the store, seizing around 11,095 counterfeit goods worth an estimated £1,045,774.

Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit at City of London Police, said: “Selling counterfeit goods is illegal.

The trio were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

“The men tried to hide their illegitimate business under the guise of a fast food shop, and part of Jabarkhail’s job was to let the others know if police were nearby.”

During the first police raid 6,652 items of clothing, jewellery, watches and perfume were confiscated and Hashimi and Jabarkhail were arrested.

Both admitted they knew what they were dealing fake goods, and that it was illegal, in police interviews.

Jabarkhail told officers that Hashimi employed him as a “spotter” to look out for cops and shut down the shop if they were nearby.

Meanwhile Hashimi said he worked for a man called "Pablo", but could not provide further details.

Further investigations suggested “Pablo” was an alias used by Wadood, who rented the basement from the building’s landlord.

Cops raided the basement for a second time less than six months later and impounded 4,443 counterfeit items and arrested Hashimi and Wadood, both of whom were on the shop floor at the time.

Hashimi told officers he worked for Wadood, whose alias was Pablo Escobar, and that his job was to restock the shop and serve customers. He claimed the average item sold for £25.

If the seized counterfeit goods had been sold at that price those running the shop would have made £277,375, it was estimated.

Though the ringleader said he worked with Hashimi, he claimed he didn’t recognise Jabarkhail.

Wadood told officers he sublet the shop from another man, before later admitting he rented the unit directly from the building’s landlord. The basement unit was shut down following the second warrant, and officers worked with the landlord to terminate the dealer’s lease.

The outlet’s owner and his two accomplices pleaded guilty to distributing articles infringing trademarks.

DC Fryatt said: “Jabarkhail and Hashimi knew that their actions were against the law, so it was infuriating to see Hashimi back on the shop floor when we went to the shop for a second time.

“However, our investigation identified Wadood as the ringleader of this operation and put an end to his scheme.

“We hope that this result sends a strong message to other criminals involved in the sale of counterfeit goods that this will not be tolerated.”

At Manchester Crown Court on June 6 (TUE) Wadood, of Barrow Hill Road, Manchester, was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 200 hours community service.

At the same time, Hashimi, of Sandyhills, Bolton, was sentenced to 39 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 200 hours community service.

And Jabarkhail, of Clarendon Street, Greater Manchester, was sentenced to 30 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 50 hours community service.

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Marcus Evans, Deputy Director of Intelligence and Law Enforcement at the Intellectual Property Office, explained that dealing the counterfeit goods industry contributes to over 80,000 job losses a year.

He said: “Criminals are seeking to exploit consumers and communities for their own financial gain through the trade in illegal counterfeits, with absolutely no regard for the quality or safety of the items being sold, which are often dangerous and defective.

“Such items can cause genuine harm to the people who buy and use them, as well as those workers often exploited during their production.



“As well as helping to sustain criminal lifestyles, the sale of counterfeit goods has been estimated to contribute to over 80,000 job loses each year in the UK by diverting funds away from legitimate traders and into the hands of criminals.”