Feds charge 2, seize $1B worth of knockoffs in ‘largest-ever’ counterfeit bust

The underground market for counterfeit brand names is so widespread, it’s hard for law enforcement to keep up. However, on Nov. 15, federal prosecutors in New York announced a major bust — one they say is the “largest-ever” seizure of counterfeit designer goods in U.S. history.

Police reportedly seized 219,000 fake name-brand bags, clothing, shoes and other fake luxury items in a Manhattan storage facility. Prosecutors estimated the retail value to be $1.03 billion.

Two people have been arrested and charged with the counterfeiting operation: Adama Sow, 38, and Abdulai Jalloh, 48, who police said ran the large-scale operation since at least January of this year, using the storage facility and an off-site location in Manhattan.

The two have both been charged with trafficking counterfeit goods, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

“As alleged, the defendants used a Manhattan storage facility as a distribution center for massive amounts of knock-off designer goods,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. “The seizures announced today consist of merchandise with over a billion dollars in estimated retail value, the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods in U.S. history.”

The announcement comes just two months after an NYPD crackdown on counterfeit goods flooding the streets of New York. Officers arrested 18 people and seized truck-loads of bogus brand names worth an estimated retail price of $35 million.

Police and prosecutors stress that these are not victimless crimes, pointing mainly to uncertainties about how these goods are actually manufactured and how they affect local business owners.

“The trafficking of counterfeit goods is anything but a victimless crime because it harms legitimate businesses, governments and consumers,” NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said. “Today’s indictments show how seriously the NYPD and our federal partners take this offense. And we will continue to work hard to hold accountable anyone who seeks to benefit by selling such items on the black market.”

With the rapid rise in online shopping, consumers are more at risk of being duped into buying bogus items. According to a study by Michigan State University, seven in 10 people have been tricked into buying counterfeit products in the last year.