Thousands of unsafe toys seized in Manchester
Trading Standards say they could have posed a real danger to children if they were allowed to be sold
More than 4,400 unsafe toys have been seized from a Manchester wholesaler after a court heard they posed serious risks to young children.
ABC Imports, in Wooley Street, Manchester, was investigated after Trading Standards officers were alerted by the UK Border Force to a shipment that had arrived in the UK in January 2024.
A total of 3,633 items were removed during the first visit, with a further 848 seized in November 2024.
At Tameside Magistrates Court on Friday 13th February 2026, company director Ali Yaser Afzali was handed a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months.
He was also ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work, pay £2,500 in costs and a victim surcharge of £154.
The court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the counterfeit toys found by Trading Standards officers.
Toys failed safety checks
Trading Standards officers traced the shipment to ABC Imports and searched the premises.
Items taken away for testing included toys carrying branding linked to Hello Kitty, Nintendo, Cocomelon and Mattel-Barbie.
Tests found a range of hazards, meaning the goods were unsafe for sale and posed a serious risk to children.
According to the council, one Hello Kitty guitar had a strap without a breakaway feature, creating a strangulation risk.
Officers also found packaging which could create a suffocation risk, poor assembly which meant parts could detach and become a choking hazard, unsecured battery compartments and non-compliant labelling.
Director interviewed during investigation
Afzali was interviewed by Trading Standards officers during the investigation.
According to the council, he said the toys had been imported from China and were “legit”.
The council said he was unable to provide safety reports or invoices for the goods.
A second visit to the premises was carried out in November 2024, when officers seized another 848 items.
Those goods were also found not to meet safety standards or the specifications needed for sale in the UK.
Councillor responds after court case
Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods, said: “What we learned from this case was the total disregard this wholesaler had for safety regulations. Those regulations are in place to keep people safe, and in the case of these toys, to keep children safe.
“To act as if they were not a concern is shocking and I’m glad the court also took this view. I’m grateful for the skill and determination of our legal officers and Trading Standards team in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.”