Two streets in Manchester are now dominated by a startling concentration of vape shops – over fifty in total, lining the sidewalks and raising serious questions among residents.
Whispers circulate, fueled by the area’s notorious past. Some believe the sheer number of businesses defies logic, suggesting a darker undercurrent at play. One local voiced a stark suspicion: “How can all these be legitimate businesses? I wonder what could possibly be going on. I think it’s money laundering.”
The concern isn’t dismissed lightly. Another resident pointed to the government’s potential benefit, stating, “Cleaned money is taxed money, the government are happy to get their share, so they aren’t going to stop it any time ever.”
Cheetham Hill once held a different, equally troubling reputation – as the “counterfeit capital of Europe.” For years, the area was a haven for shops peddling fake designer goods, attracting illicit trade and organized crime.
In 2022, authorities launched ‘Operation Vulcan,’ a large-scale effort to dismantle the criminal networks operating in the neighborhoods. The results were significant: over 1050 tonnes of counterfeit items seized, 216 shops shut down, and 238 arrests made.
Alongside the counterfeit goods, police also confiscated substantial amounts of illicit products, including over £500,000 in cash, 2.4 million class C drugs, and nearly 400,000 illegal vapes.
Despite the history and the concerns, current shop owners insist everything is above board. Kamran Akhtar, manager at The Vape Boyz, maintains that the businesses are legitimate, supplying vapes legally to retailers across the country.
However, another employee at The Vape Boyz, Juanid, offered a different perspective. He suggested the surge in vape shops directly followed Operation Vulcan, filling the void left by the closed counterfeit businesses.
According to Juanid, approximately 30% of the counterfeit shops closed, and vape businesses quickly moved in to take their place. He estimates that most of the shops operate as wholesalers, rarely selling individual devices to the public.
Retailers travel from across the UK – Scotland, Wales, London, Bristol, and Yorkshire – to purchase vapes in Manchester, fueling the wholesale trade. Akhtar acknowledges local skepticism but argues the area is now safer without the prevalence of counterfeit goods.
Local trading standards officials are aware of the dramatic increase in vape shops but currently express no significant concerns regarding their operations.
