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
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: April-June 2026
California | Connecticut | Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | Missouri | New York | Texas | Worldwide: Hong Kong | India | Jamaica | Lithuania | Singapore | South Korea | Spain | United Kingdom | Vietnam
California
May 4, 2026 – An El Monte resident is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to his part in a sophisticated counterfeiting pipeline. The operation funneled up to $200 million in fraudulent goods — knockoff shoes, handbags, watches, and perfume — through the LA-Long Beach port complex from China. The man operated a City of Industry warehouse where diverted shipping containers were secretly unloaded, repacked with filler, and resealed with forged customs stamps before being returned for inspection. Part of a nine-person network, he joins several co-conspirators already sentenced. The ring’s suspected ringleader remains at large, while authorities have seized over $130 million in counterfeit merchandise.
May 14, 2026 – Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives uncovered a multimillion-dollar counterfeit merchandise ring. It was hiding in plain sight within the city’s Fashion District. Following an early-morning raid on both a retail storefront and a nearby warehouse, authorities hauled away an estimated $5–$10 million in knockoff luxury goods, ranging from designer handbags to Hello Kitty-branded items and imitation Lululemon bags. Two unnamed suspects were taken into custody during the operation. The investigation, led by the department’s Major Crimes Bureau, is ongoing, with officials signaling that additional arrests and charges may follow. Detectives are working to untangle the broader supply and distribution network behind the scheme.
Patch – Chris Lindahl – May 14, 2026
Connecticut
April 6, 2026 – A New Britain couple was sentenced in Hartford federal court for running a three-year counterfeit goods operation that generated over $4 million in sales. Leveraging Facebook live streams, they showcased and sold fake designer clothing, handbags, and jewelry to buyers across the country. Payments were collected through CashApp, PayPal, and Venmo. Counterfeit parcels traced to their home were intercepted multiple times by Customs officials, and a 2024 search of their residence yielded nearly 2,000 fraudulent items. Both received one year of probation, modest fines, and a joint restitution order of just over $10,700.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Connecticut – April 6, 2026
Florida
April 20, 2026 – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Port Everglades, Florida, intercepted a shipment of over 8,500 counterfeit designer perfumes. These bogus scents bore the names of Gucci, Burberry, Armani, and Lancôme — with an authentic retail value exceeding $1 million. The Singapore-bound cargo was destined for a Miami address. It was flagged during a routine February inspection and later confirmed as fraudulent in April following analysis by CBP’s Intellectual Property Enforcement Branch. Beyond the economic harm counterfeit goods inflict on legitimate businesses, officials emphasized the potential health dangers fake fragrances pose to unsuspecting consumers. The bust underscores CBP’s ongoing commitment to protecting both intellectual property rights and public safety.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection – April 20, 2026
Georgia
April 2, 2026 – Douglasville police conducted a sweeping crackdown at Arbor Place Mall in Georgia, searching 16 storefronts and kiosks suspected of peddling counterfeit merchandise. The illicit products included fake jewelry, clothing, sunglasses, and cell phone accessories. The raid followed an undercover sting in which investigators purchased items to verify their authenticity. Authorities have yet to identify the implicated businesses or finalize criminal charges. Legitimate mall vendors welcomed the intervention. One business owner pointed out that a few bad actors taint the reputation of honest retailers throughout the entire mall. Police framed the disruption as a necessary step toward protecting local shoppers from fraudulent goods.
Atlanta News First – April 2, 2026
Kentucky
April 9, 2026 – On April 3, officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Louisville intercepted 1,588 counterfeit jewelry items. They were found in two express shipments, and if genuine, would have sold for more than $9.2 million. The packages, from Hong Kong, were headed to a New York residence. Inside were 522 bracelets, 197 necklaces, 691 pairs of earrings, and 178 rings. They bore designer brand names such as Gucci, Christian Dior, Tiffany, Yves Saint Laurent, and Chanel. The officers suspected they were counterfeit and submitted photographs to CBP’s trade experts, who confirmed the suspicion. This led to the shipment’s seizure.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection – April 9, 2026
May 11, 2026 – On May 1, U.S. CBP officers in Louisville intercepted 1,622 pieces of counterfeit jewelry in one shipment. If genuine, the bogus goods would have had a combined MSRP of more than $14.1 million. Originating in Hong Kong, this consignment shipment was on its way to Chicago. The package contained 395 necklaces and 1,227 bracelets. They were made to appear identical to luxury brands such as Van Cleef and Arpels, Tiffany, and Cartier, with counterfeit trademarks. Even so, CBP officials suspected the pieces to be counterfeit and seized them for investigation. CBP’s trade experts, the Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Center of Excellence and Expertise, analyzed photographs and documentation. Working with trademark holders, they verified that the products were fake.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection – May 11, 2026
Missouri
May 6, 2026 – A Waynesville, Missouri woman pleaded guilty to three federal counts of counterfeit goods trafficking after operating a home-based online boutique. Bali Rattan LLC moved more than 2,100 fraudulent items valued at over $2.3 million. Sold between 2022 and 2024, the knockoff purses, shoes, jewelry, clothing, and accessories were sourced primarily from the Philippines, Hong Kong, and China. The woman acknowledged continuing her operation even after receiving explicit warnings from U.S. Customs and Border Protection that her imports were unlawful. She now faces up to a decade in federal prison, with sentencing pending a presentence investigation.
OzarksFirst – Russell Bell – May 6, 2026
New York
April 15, 2026 – On March 30, officials with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized almost 1,000 phony electronic devices at the Buffalo port of entry. The counterfeit electronic bore fake trademarks. If genuine, the electronics would have been valued at around $150,000. More than a month earlier, CBP officers at the warehouse discovered a commercial vehicle containing multiple shipments of electronics. The truck contained smart watches, streaming devices, and cell phones. After further investigation, they found that the products were counterfeit and seized them for bearing counterfeit trademarks.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection – April 15, 2026
April 28, 2026 – A father-daughter duo pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to wire fraud conspiracy. They orchestrated a five-year scheme that flooded auction houses nationwide with over 200 forged artworks. The fraudulent pieces were falsely attributed to icons like Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Banksy, and Native American artist Fritz Scholder. To lend credibility to their forgeries, the pair fabricated elaborate ownership histories, forged gallery stamps, and printed fake certificates of authenticity on aged paper. Individual pieces fetched as much as $160,000, with total losses to victims exceeding $2 million. Both defendants now face up to 20 years in federal prison.
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York – April 28, 2026
Texas
April 6, 2026 – A coordinated April 2nd raid by HSI, CBP, and the Houston Police Department dismantled a counterfeit sports merchandise operation in southwest Houston. They confiscated over 12,000 fake items valued at roughly $1.95 million. The sting was part of “Operation Team Player,” a broad nationwide initiative uniting federal agencies, major sports leagues, and local law enforcement to combat the trafficking of counterfeit goods across online platforms and retail outlets. The operation’s scale is significant. Last year alone, authorities nationwide intercepted over 276,000 fake sports items worth an estimated $33.4 million.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – April 6, 2026
April 26, 2026 – A Cuban jeweler and Houston business owner faces serious trademark infringement charges after authorities discovered over 1,500 counterfeit designer jewelry pieces inside his PlazAmericas shopping center store. The jewelry was valued at approximately $300,000. Arrested in April, the man reportedly acknowledged that he knew the merchandise was fraudulent at the time of sale. Because the counterfeit goods exceed $2,500 in value, Texas law elevates the offense to felony status. At $300,000, he could face a first-degree felony charge carrying anywhere from five years to life imprisonment. He was released on $20,000 bail while awaiting trial.
May 20, 2026 – A Galleria-area Houston jewelry store was exposed for peddling hundreds of thousands of dollars in fake luxury goods. The 58-year-old owner and 52-year-old manager face felony trademark counterfeiting charges. They allegedly sold counterfeit Cartier, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Omega, and Patek Philippe items valued between $150,000 and $300,000. Both were arrested Monday and are due in court Thursday. The store was shuttered when reporters visited. At least one customer is now questioning whether an engagement ring he purchased is even authentic.
KHOU-11 – Cory McCord, Trason Bragg – May 20, 2026
Hong Kong
May 1, 2026 – In a coordinated April crackdown spanning Hong Kong, mainland China, and Macau, customs authorities dismantled 23 cross-border counterfeiting cases and confiscated roughly 46,000 fake goods. The haul included watches, phones, and luxury items, with a combined estimated value of HK$16 million (approximately US$2 million). Most cases implicated local courier and logistics companies. Two separate discoveries involving inbound trucks at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge resulted in the arrest of two drivers, both of whom were released on bail.
South China Morning Post – Theodora Yu – May 1, 2026
India
May 15, 2026 – Delhi Police dismantled a counterfeit garment operation in the Naraina Industrial Area. They raided four locations simultaneously and seized over 3,400 fake branded jeans bearing the labels of Levi’s, Zara, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger. Alongside the fraudulent clothing, authorities confiscated thousands of forged tags and packaging materials, as well as seven industrial stitching machines used in the fabrication process. One suspect was arrested during the raids. Brand representatives on the scene confirmed all recovered items were counterfeit. Investigators are now working to map the broader supply chain and identify distributors and additional players connected to the manufacturing racket.
Hindustan Times – May 15, 2026
Jamaica
April 5, 2026 – Jamaican authorities arrested a 51-year-old Chinese national working as a supervisor at a Barry Street haberdashery in downtown Kingston. A raid uncovered more than 1,900 pairs of counterfeit shoes valued at approximately $6.3 million. The operation was conducted by the Transnational Crime Investigation Division. The lead detective used the occasion to warn consumers about the safety hazards posed by unregulated, counterfeit merchandise. The man faces charges of unauthorized trademark use and misleading conduct. The case underscores Jamaica’s growing commitment to enforcing intellectual property laws and pursuing those who exploit globally recognized brands for illicit profit.
Lithuania
April 5, 2026 – Lithuanian customs officers intercepted a Switzerland-to-Belarus transit shipment containing over 170 pieces of counterfeit clothing and footwear. They discovered vests, T-shirts, and flip-flops falsely branded as Armani, Hermès, Lacoste, and Yves Saint Laurent. The unusually low declared value of roughly 900 euros raised immediate suspicion, and trademark holders subsequently confirmed the goods were fraudulent. Authorities ordered the entire consignment destroyed under customs supervision. Officials highlighted a noteworthy takeaway: counterfeit goods aren’t exclusively routed through traditionally suspect regions. The case serves as a reminder that even shipments originating from high-reputation countries like Switzerland warrant equal scrutiny, reinforcing the need for uniform vigilance across all transit corridors.
Singapore
May 7, 2026 – A Singapore-based Instagram seller has been ordered to pay Louis Vuitton SGD510,000 (US$403,000) in damages. The Court of Appeal more than doubled an earlier High Court award. Operating under the handles “emcase_sg” and “emcrafts_sg,” The individual sold counterfeit products, including phone cases, passport covers, and pouches bearing Louis Vuitton logos across nine product categories. In doing so, they committed at least 121 instances of trademark infringement. After the man failed to appear in court, the Court of Appeal revised the damages upward from SGD200,000 (US$156,000). They also ordered an additional SGD40,000 (US$31,318) in legal costs, clarifying how damages are assessed in counterfeit trademark disputes.
VnExpress International – Dat Nguyen – May 7, 2025
South Korea
April 20, 2026 – Seoul authorities have arrested two suspects behind what officials are calling the city’s largest ever counterfeit crackdown. Operating from a large Dongdaemun-gu mall unit for roughly a decade, the pair sold high-quality fake luxury goods. They sold 1,649 items worth an estimated 7.2 billion won ($4.9 million), primarily to foreign tourists, whom they lured via tour guides. To avoid detection, they used hidden storage and surveillance cameras. A six-month undercover investigation by the city’s special judicial police, employing digital forensics, uncovered the operation. The case has been referred to prosecutors. Under South Korea’s Trademark Act, offenders face up to seven years in prison.
The Korea Herald – Yoon Min-sik – April 20, 2026
May 10, 2026 – A South Korean man in his 40s has been sentenced to two years and five months in prison, plus a 10 million won (US$6,600) fine, for selling around 6,300 counterfeit luxury items. This merchandise included fake Prada and Louis Vuitton bags and shoes valued at approximately 9 billion won (US$5.9 million). He operated through Naver Band and KakaoTalk between September 2023 and May 2025. He also stored nearly 2,000 counterfeit perfumes in a Daegu warehouse and submitted false customs declarations when importing goods from China. Busan District Court noted the severity and duration of the offenses, though his cooperation with investigators was considered a mitigating factor.
The Chosun Daily – Kim Mi-hee – May 10, 2026
Spain
April 9, 2026 – Spain’s Civil Guard, in “Operation Yankao-Mikao,” has dismantled a major criminal network manufacturing and distributing counterfeit tobacco across Catalonia. Twenty suspects were arrested following raids on five industrial sites in Girona and Barcelona provinces. Officials yielded over 100 tons of tobacco, nearly 384,000 ready-to-distribute counterfeit Marlboro packs, and industrial machinery capable of producing up to 900,000 cigarettes daily. Eleven undocumented workers found on-site are believed to have been exploited. Nine detainees face charges including smuggling, tax evasion, and criminal organization membership, with four remanded in custody. Europol and Philip Morris International both provided assistance during the investigation.
World Border Security Congress – April 9, 2026
United Kingdom
April 12, 2026 – A Birmingham couple ran a counterfeit clothing operation from their Acocks Green home for over five years. They printed fake branded merchandise — including Gucci, Marvel, Adidas, and BMW logos — onto plain t-shirts and sold them through online marketplaces. Operating via a company called Smass Ltd, the pair continued despite prior warnings from Birmingham Trading Standards. This ultimately caused an estimated £2 million (US$2.6 million) in harm to legitimate brands. The man was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for trademark offenses and money laundering. His wife received a two-year suspended sentence and 200 hours of unpaid community work.
BirminghamLive – Nick Horner – April 12, 2026
May 10, 2026 – The City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) seized nearly 6,500 counterfeit vinyl records valued at approximately £259,000. The April raid on a Luton premises is believed to be one of the UK’s largest ever crackdowns on fake LP production. Conducted in partnership with the British Phonographic Industry’s Content Protection Unit, the operation targeted criminals exploiting vinyl’s surging popularity. Vinyl records are now in their 18th consecutive year of sales growth. Authorities emphasized that counterfeit goods damage artists, legitimate businesses, and wider society, often funding further criminal activity. No arrests have been publicly confirmed at this stage.
NME – Max Pilley – May 10, 2026
Vietnam
April 12, 2026 – Vietnamese market authorities have fined seven retail stores in Da Nang a combined VND215 million (roughly US$8,000) for stocking counterfeit luxury goods. An early April raid on shops in the tourist districts of Son Tra and Hoi An uncovered 295 counterfeit handbags bearing the branding of Gucci, Chanel, Hermès, and Fendi. Officials also discovered 27 counterfeit pairs of Nike trainers. None was supported by purchase documentation. The crackdown was timed ahead of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, when tourist footfall peaks. All seized goods are to be destroyed. Authorities have pledged ongoing inspections, with serious repeat offenses potentially referred for criminal investigation.
VNExpress International – Ngoc Truong – April 12, 2026
May 20, 2026 – Ho Chi Minh City police arrested the owner of the three-location K.W Sneaker chain after raids uncovered nearly 1,500 pairs of counterfeit sneakers. The Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and Onitsuka Tiger shoes were worth roughly $125,000, if genuine. The man admitted to knowingly sourcing counterfeits via social media since early 2023. He was lured by fat margins and easy sales, netting an estimated $38,000 in illicit profits. The bust falls under a government-mandated 45-day nationwide IP enforcement blitz, ordered by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. It targets a 20% increase in crackdowns versus last year. Consumers were warned to avoid suspiciously cheap, undocumented goods.