Fake Apple products among 1,000 illegal goods seized

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) shared on their Bolton South Facebook page that on Thursday (June 27), officers from Rumworth and Hulton Neighbourhood Policing Team spent the afternoon visiting multiple places in partnership with Bolton Trading Standards Officers.

Police visited the sites along with along with Bolton Trading Standards Officers (Image: GMP)

The visits were part of an effort to crack down on the selling of illegal products and counterfeit goods in the area.

Police have said that more than 1,000 products were seized, including counterfeit Apple products, illegal vape kits, phone accessories, Illegal nicotine gum and illegal cigarettes.

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These products were seized from a number of businesses based on Wigan Road, Deane Road and St Helens Road.

Police Sergeant Cooper from GMP's Bolton South Neighbourhood Team said "Working with partner agencies such as Trading Standards is essential for effective Neighbourhood Policing.

Many illegal tobacco products and vapes were seized (Image: GMP)

"Yesterday’s result shows that by working together we can disrupt criminal activity and we hope to continue this work with Trading Standards but also other partners to tackle all types of Neighbourhood Crime."

GMP added in the post that counterfeit goods are the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to wider criminality, including money laundering, funding criminal gangs and the exploitation of vulnerable people.

Counterfeit goods are said to be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to crime in the area (Image: GMP)

Illegal vapes kits and accessories that are unregulated can be dangerous and harmful to a person's health.

Police have urged anyone with information or concerns to report those through the LiveChat function on its website or by contacting the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.