(New York) American justice announced Wednesday evening the record seizure of some 220,000 counterfeit bags, clothing and shoes and other copies of luxury consumer products worth a billion dollars, unheard of in the history of seizures in the United States.
The announcement by federal prosecutors in southern New York state, which includes Manhattan, is accompanied by photos of rooms in a warehouse on the megacity’s main island, filled with boxes piled on pallets, and from handbags, wallets, shirts and shoe boxes.
The market value of these 219,000 seized items was estimated by manufacturers at an unprecedented figure of “approximately $1.03 billion”, according to the press release, which specifies that two people residing in New York – Adama Sow, 38 years old , and Abdulai Jalloh, 48 years old – were arrested and charged this Monday for “trafficking in counterfeit goods”.
If tried, these individuals could face up to ten years in prison.
“The seizures announced today represent an estimated retail value of more than $1 billion, the largest seizure of counterfeit goods in U.S. history,” said Manhattan Federal Prosecutor Damian. Williams.
On the black market, counterfeit and copied items on branded and luxury products are worth much less than the real goods.
For one of the leaders of the New York police, Edward Caban, “trafficking in counterfeit goods is nothing less than a crime without physical victims because it attacks legal businesses, governments and consumers”.
The trafficking took place from January to October this year, according to American justice.
New York, like many international megacities in the world, sees its sidewalks around tourist sites covered with street vendors selling counterfeit clothing, bags, sporting goods and jewelry from well-known brands on their tables mounted on trestles.