Counterfeit tobacco equipment and packaging seized in Bury

Equipment used to make counterfeit tobacco and packets of packaging for the illicit good have been seized by police in Bury.

Police and Trading Standards officers teamed up yesterday, Thursday, to tackle "targeted activity and disruption of counterfeit tobacco products".

A machine and compressor have been seized along with 20 packets of packaging for counterfeit tobacco.

No arrests have been reported.

A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokesperson said: "The town centre and Whitefield neighbourhood team have worked in partnership today (Thursday) with Bury Council and their Trading Standards team.

"We conducted a visit at a commercial storage premises within the Bury area looking at the targeted activity and disruption of counterfeit tobacco products.

"While counterfeit tobacco products appear innocent they enable further criminality usually in the form of organised crime.

"This has a direct impact on our communities and also the wider public.

"We act on information that you as the public provide us, if it's not brought to our attention we can't act on it.

"If you see it, report it! You can do this online via the GMP website or anonymously via Crimestoppers."

Police worked with Trading Standards on the crackdown (Image: Greater Manchester Police)

A number of items were seized (Image: Greater Manchester Police)

Items that were seized (Image: Greater Manchester Police)

Police have also fired a warning of Sur-Ron electric bikes being used to commit burglaries and robberies.

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The police spokesperson added: "We're also well aware of the problem surrounding off-road bikes and Sur-Rons- these are being used to commit burglaries and robberies so we're trying to obtain information on where these bikes are kept.

"If you have any within your local area please report it to us!"

To report crimes in your area contact police on 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.