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NYPD Seizes $35M Worth of Counterfeit Designer Goods in Lower Manhattan Bust
Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a significant crackdown on counterfeit designer goods, the New York Police Department (NYPD) recently seized an estimated $35 million worth of knockoff luxury items, including fake Louis Vuitton and Gucci bags, as was reported by the New York Post. The operation led to the arrest of 18 individuals who were allegedly openly selling these counterfeit products on the bustling sidewalks of Lower Manhattan.
A video posted on social media by NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell captured the dramatic raid. According to the Post report, in the footage, one can see dozens of imitation handbags meticulously arranged on top of subway grates, along with counterfeit wallets, sunglasses, and caps displayed on tables. The operation unfolded at the intersection of Canal Street and Broadway, shedding light on the brazen sale of counterfeit goods.
The decision to carry out this operation came in response to numerous complaints from the local community and business owners about the proliferation of counterfeit merchandise in the area. The Post reported that in a video statement, NYPD Inspector William Glynn emphasized the significant volume of counterfeit products being sold openly and the department’s commitment to addressing this issue.
The operation spanned Canal Street from Church Street to Broadway and extended along Broadway from Walker Street to Howard Street, encompassing the border areas of Tribeca and Chinatown, as was reported by the Post. The counterfeit goods, including fake Prada hats and sham Saint Laurent clutches, were so abundant that it took three NYPD flatbed tow trucks to clear them out, the report added.
“We received a tremendous amount of complaints about counterfeit goods from the community and from the business owners,” NYPD Inspector William Glynn said in the video, as was reported by the Post. “So as you can see, there is a tremendous amount…and we’re here seizing that, and taking it off the streets.”
Chief Timothy Baudette highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that the sellers had become highly concentrated in the area, obstructing entrances to numerous restaurants and businesses. As was noted in the Post report, most of the arrests made during the operation were for trademark counterfeiting, underscoring the prevalence of counterfeit luxury items being peddled in plain sight.
“This is an area here where the soldiers are very condensed,” Baudette said, as per the Post. “We have two or three dozen sellers blocking the entrances to numerous restaurants, places of business.”
Commenters on the video of the mass arrest expressed frustration that these illegal sales had been taking place for years without intervention. However, the Post reported that the NYPD made it clear that they were committed to ongoing enforcement efforts to combat the ubiquitous sale of counterfeit merchandise.
Chief Baudette outlined their plans to continue operations that seek to target the sale of counterfeit designer products. Additionally, officers will be stationed in the area to deter the illegal setup and ensure that individuals do not continue to engage in this illegal trade, said the Post report.
“We’re going to continue with the operations,” Baudette said. “Going forward, we’re also going to be posting officers here to try to prevent this setup, so the gentlemen don’t waste their time out here losing their merchandise or getting arrested and so forth.”
While the sale of counterfeit designer items may have persisted for some time, this operation demonstrates the authorities’ determination to protect consumers and uphold intellectual property rights. As the enforcement efforts continue, it serves as a warning to those involved in the counterfeit trade that their activities will not be tolerated on the streets of Lower Manhattan.
