These nationwide and global anti-piracy seizures are just a small sampling of the worldwide efforts by local, state, and federal law enforcement, often collaborating in anti-piracy investigations. While many of these seizures in the past have focused on physical stockpiles of counterfeited CD and DVD recordings, illegal streaming and file-sharing technology have radically transformed how law enforcement battles what are now digital piracy concerns. Meanwhile, counterfeit merchandising has exploded in recent years, which has led to stepped-up efforts by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other federal agencies to stop illegal products from coming into the U.S. from other countries. Local law enforcement also gets involved in cases where illegal products—some of them a threat to public health—are being imported and sold within the U.S.
Today, federal and state anti-piracy efforts tackle digital piracy and the production, transfer, and sale of all kinds of counterfeit merchandise, from watches, sneakers, and handbags to counterfeit medicines and vaccines, industrial equipment, and beauty products.
2026: January – March | April – June | July – September
2025: January – March | April – June | July – September | October – December
2024: January – March | April – June | July – September | October – December
2023: January – March | April – June | July – September | October – December
2022: January – March | April – June | July – September | October – December
Anti-Piracy Seizure Information: July-September 2026
Kentucky | New York | North Carolina | Texas | Worldwide: Canada | United Kingdom | Vietnam
Kentucky
July 17, 2026 – Two weeks after Louisville CBP officials seized a shipment of 200 counterfeit watches bearing phony Audemars Piguet trademarks, officers at the same facility intercepted another shipment. This package, also from Hong Kong, contained counterfeit watches bearing suspected fake Audemars Piguet trademarks. This time, there were 200 watches headed for an Illinois address. CBP’s trade experts confirmed that the watches were counterfeit, which led to their seizure. If genuine, the 200 bogus luxury watches would have had an MSRP of $28 million.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection – July 17, 2026
New York
July 16, 2026 – CBP officials in the port of Rochester seized 80 unauthorized soccer jerseys, which included 40 counterfeit FIFA jerseys. They were found during a shipment inspection. Experts found them to be inauthentic, bearing counterfeit trademarks, and seized the shipment. If genuine, the jerseys would have sold for $12,200.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection – July 16, 2026
July 30, 2026 – New York State Police, working with Homeland Security Investigations and other agencies, executed a search warrant at BT/GT Family Halal Market in Newburgh on July 27, 2026, as part of an organized retail crime investigation. Nearly 480 counterfeit items worth roughly $119,000 were seized, including Nike footwear and apparel, Apple electronics, and luxury goods bearing trademarks from Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and other brands. An IP House investigator authenticated the merchandise on-site. Store owner Bobby R. Tillery, 65, was arrested and charged with second-degree trademark counterfeiting, a felony. He was released on an appearance ticket, with a court date set for August 27.
New York State Police – July 30, 2026
North Carolina
July 2, 2026 – Gaston County Police charged two Stanley residents with counterfeiting after receiving a tip that they were selling fake merchandise from their home. After investigating, officials carried out a search warrant and discovered 96,108 suspected counterfeits. If genuine, these products would have had an MSRP of approximately $7,845. The two people have been charged with Criminal Use of Counterfeit Trademark and Felony Conspiracy. Gaston County Police, the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, Blazer Investigations, and Homeland Security were all involved in the investigation.
WJZY Charlotte – Abby Mittower – July 2, 2026
July 16, 2026– A 53-year-old Durham man was sentenced to 8 months to 1 year 7 months in prison after pleading guilty to counterfeit trademark charges in both Nash and Durham counties. Investigators found him selling roughly $88,000 in fake designer clothing at a Rocky Mount flea market in 2023, then another $36,400 worth in Durham in 2024, totaling about $124,658. He also faced a felony firearm possession charge. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall noted that the man has faced counterfeit trademark violations five times in 14 years, calling the sentence a message about counterfeiting’s economic and consumer harm.
CBS 17 – Matthew Sockol – July 16, 2026
Texas
July 23, 2026 – Federal prosecutors charged two Georgia men with running a $1.7 million counterfeit postage stamp operation. Starting in 2024, the pair allegedly bought fake stamps from Chinese suppliers, disguised as holiday stickers. They resold roughly 6.5 million of them as genuine U.S. flag forever stamps through an online marketplace, using a Georgia shipping company as cover. Investigators say they laundered proceeds through multiple bank accounts. Postal inspectors intercepted over 544,000 additional counterfeit stamps before distribution. One man pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in June and awaits sentencing in October. The other faces multiple fraud and laundering charges, with a maximum 20-year sentence.
United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Alabama – July 23, 2026
Canada
July 8, 2026 – Surrey Police concluded a yearlong investigation, “Project Prada,” seizing suspected counterfeit goods valued at roughly $6.6 million in lost retail sales. The probe began in June 2025 after a tip from the Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network led investigators to a Surrey residence. A search warrant executed on June 17, 2026, resulted in one arrest and the recovery of thousands of fake items, including sports jerseys from Adidas, Nike, and CCM, along with counterfeit luxury goods from brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, Hermes, Rolex, Burberry, and Cartier—spanning clothing, jewelry, watches, and accessories.
The Indo-Canadian Voice – July 8, 2026
United Kingdom
July 14, 2026 – Social media marketer Georgia Aldridge, who runs Essex-based Sloane House Marketing, was ordered by the High Court to pay £213,000 (US$286,000) to Dior, Fendi, and Louis Vuitton after her drop shipping company, Rolo Fashion Ltd, sold counterfeit goods sourced from Chinese factories while customers believed they were genuine. A default judgment against her was granted in January 2025, halting sales. Judge Richard Hacon found the fake sales cost the brands 713 genuine transactions plus licensing income on thousands more. LVMH’s brand protection head noted many items were high-quality “superfakes” designed to deceive buyers. Reputational damage claims were dismissed.
Vietnam
July 24, 2026 – Vietnam’s Agency for Domestic Market Surveillance and Development, working with US Homeland Security Investigations, uncovered a counterfeit Nike operation at MP Company in Ho Chi Minh City. Inspectors found nearly 50,000 pairs of fake Nike and Air Jordan shoes. This counterfeit footwear was indistinguishable from genuine products and bore copied authentication codes. They were worth roughly $3.7 million at market price. The company claimed legitimate subcontracting agreements, but Nike confirmed it never authorized the operation. Records show 11 containers had already been exported to the US. Officials called it a major cross-border case involving forged documents and plan to refer it for criminal investigation.