New York Authorities Make Largest-Ever Seizure Of Knock-Off Goods

This photo provided by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York shows counterfeit goods from a storage unit in New York. Two people were charged with trafficking the knock-offs from a New York City storage unit and other locations from January through October, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.(U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York via AP) — This photo provided by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York shows counterfeit goods from a storage unit in New York. Two people were charged with trafficking the knock-offs from a New York City storage unit and other locations from January through October, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.(U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York via AP)

OAN’s James Meyers
9:28 AM –Thursday, November 16, 2023

Federal authorities in New York announced the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods valued at over $1 billion.

Almost 219,000 items were seized from Manhattan storage facilities by U.S. Homeland Security Investigators and city police, authorities said Wednesday.

Two people were charged with trafficking counterfeit goods.

Photographs released by prosecutors showed shelves stacked with counterfeit wallets and bags in one location and handbags hanging from hooks from floor to ceiling in another.

“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,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said.

Additionally, the two men charged can face up to a maximum of 10 years in prison if convicted. The indictments accuse them of distributing counterfeit goods since January.

According to federal authorities, the actual street value of the items seized in the raids is under $1 billion. This was based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the real versions of the seized fakes.

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