Anti-Piracy Seizure Information
New York
October 12, 2022 – Nassau County police arrested a Smithtown woman after they found counterfeit clothing and jewelry worth $40 million, which were being sold to nationwide customers from her Plainview store, Linny’s Boutique. Along with the counterfeit merchandise with labels from Prada, Gucci, Ugg, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, detectives found 22 printing press machines and synthetic counterfeit labels. The investigation found that the products were shipped across the U.S. The owner was ordered to appear in court on November 2, at First District Court in Hempstead, Long Island.
Long Island Press – Timothy Bolger – October 12, 2022
November 28, 2022 – In an effort to crack down on illegal street vendors, police seized more than $10 million in counterfeit products from high-end luxury brands like Louis Vuitton. The New York Police Department (NYPD), along with a counterfeit specialist, conducted a raid on street vendors on Canal Street, and found fake sneakers, purses and other knockoffs, leading to 17 arrests and the seizure of truckloads of products. The illegal vendors faced the charge of trademark counterfeiting property over $1,000. Most of the items seized were believed to originate from India or China.
The department planned to continue its operation throughout the city, informing sellers on how to obtain legal licenses and reminding them that selling counterfeit merchandise is illegal.
New York Post – Haley Brown and Craig McCarthy – November 28, 2022
Ohio
October 17, 2022 – At Cincinnati’s CVG Airport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized counterfeit jewelry that would have retailed at more than $8 million, had it been genuine. Most of the jewelry were fake Cartier Love bracelets—more than 700 in total. Due to their Hong Kong origin and their appearance, officers suspected them of being counterfeit. Telltale signs included cheap material, fake diamond inlays, and a lack of fine details. The bracelets had been sent to an Illinois business.
The same night, officers found two additional shipments of counterfeit products, while they were inspecting freight that originated from China. One contained 60 counterfeit Cartier rings and bracelets, along with other jewelry from luxury brands such as Bvlgari, Louis Vuitton and Gucci, and were on their way to a Colorado residence. In the second shipment, there were four more Cartier Love bracelets, being sent to a New Jersey residence. These two shipments had a retail value, if genuine, of $1.96 million.
The jewelry was confirmed as counterfeit by the CBP’s trade experts, Centers for Excellence and Expertise (CEE).