NEW YORK — Fake Fendi, fake Balenciaga and fake Christian Dior — all part of a $10 million NYPD campaign against knockoffs in Manhattan.
On Monday, officers arrived on Canal Street and loaded onto flatbed trucks thousands of items that look like Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and others, but are fakes. Police officers unloaded three brimming trucks at the police station, a coordinated effort that required multiple wagon trips to move all items.
“Here, we receive numerous complaints from small businesses, local banks, community residents, and manufacturers of the high-end products you see here,” said NYPD Patrol Chief Jeffrey Maddrey.
Police said $10 million worth of fake goods were seized and Maddrey said 17 people were arrested for selling the fake merchandise, which also included luxury watches and Air Jordans. Each of those arrested was charged with trademark forgery, a felony.
“The police: they always catch us here. And they give us a search. They take us to jail,” said one of the sellers, Mouni Karamirv. “If you want to stop this, stop in China. Not here.”
Some on Canal Street, both vendors and pedestrians, contested the raid, arguing that those selling the goods are just trying to make ends meet. But Maddrey said there’s a right way and a wrong way to do business, and police want to help clarify that difference.
“Over the next few days, we’ll be collaborating with our local businesses, our community partners, and explaining the right way to get a general seller license so people can go out and make a living the right way.” way,” Maddrey said.
Police said all counterfeit items will be treated as evidence, which could take two days to fully process.
