NYPD seizes $30 MILLION worth of counterfeit goods including fake Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Nike products in raid on eight notorious New York City illegal street vendors
NYPD seizes $30 MILLION worth of counterfeit goods, including Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Nike counterfeit products in raid of eight notorious illegal street vendors in New York City
- The arrest took place Thursday afternoon on Canal Street near Broadway
- Police were on the scene and seized hundreds of counterfeit designer swag
- NYPD said the crackdown was in part due to the “numerous complaints from the community,” according to a social media post
The NYPD has seized $30 million worth of counterfeit goods and arrested eight illegal street vendors in a massive crackdown in New York City.
Police attacked the scammers on Thursday and seized large amounts of fake gear, including Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Nike products.
In the mass arrest on Canal Street in Manhattan, police also lugged phones, watches and sneakers.
The NYPD has previously raided the same place several times, seizing $2 million worth of property last August and $10 million in November.
Police officers are seen on Canal Street during the arrest that took place Thursday that seized $30 million worth of counterfeit goods
An assortment of fake watches were on display and sold by illegal sellers
The NYPD tweeted, “Counterfeiting harms legitimate businesses and violates our laws.”
A spokesperson said this week’s crackdown was in part due to the “numerous complaints from the community.”
The police raided the same area a year ago, August 2022, and seized $2 million worth of counterfeit goods. Within weeks, the bogus peddlers were at it again.
In November 2022, agents recovered $10 million worth of “high-end” merchandise, including counterfeit wallets, sneakers, sandals, and other items.
During the sting operation, the officers seized counterfeit designer Louis Vuitton and YSL bags and purses and Nike sneakers
The NYPD posted on Thursday that they had recovered about $30 million dollars worth of counterfeit goods, writing “counterfeiting harms legitimate businesses and violates our laws”
During that raid, there were 17 arrests and some sham salespeople were charged with counterfeiting trademarks in excess of $1,000 – a serious crime in the state.
Three truckloads of merchandise were seized, Maddrey said at a press conference held after the takedown.
“The area of enforcement we went to today was like a local street market,” he told the New York Post earlier.
Pictured: An NYPD truck carrying hundreds of the illegal goods being sold
“The sidewalks are blocked, property is everywhere, merchandise is everywhere. This really has a negative impact on local businesses and also reduces the quality of life.”
The fake peddlers arrested on Thursday ranged in age from 33 to 50.
They were all slapped with brand counterfeiting charges. Some also faced charges for unlicensed sellers. Officials said one of the suspects was also charged with resisting arrest.