Just three weeks after striking in the exact same place, Nypd have officially announced the outcomes of a substantial operation targeting counterfeit goods in Lower Manhattan, involving the confiscation of numerous imitation luxury items that were being illicitly sold.
This operation unfolded during the evening of Wednesday, September 6, encompassing Canal Street from Church Street to Broadway, as well as Broadway from Walker Street to Howard Street.
The stretch of souvenir shops located at the periphery of Chinatown is a popular destination for tourists seeking to acquire a memento of their visit to New York City.
NYPD Deputy Chief Timoth Baudette remarked on the situation, stating, “This is an area where sellers are densely concentrated, with numerous individuals obstructing access to various business establishments.”
Prompted by numerous complaints from the local community, the police took action, resulting in the apprehension of 18 individuals and the seizure of counterfeit merchandise in quantities substantial enough to fill three flatbed trucks.
Evaluating the value of this seizure based on the authentic items that the knockoffs were attempting to replicate, law enforcement estimated the bust’s total worth at $35 million.
The majority of the suspects have been charged with trademark counterfeiting offenses.
NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell shared video footage of the operation on his Instagram account.
One store manager in the vicinity expressed reluctance to appear on camera due to concerns about potential retaliation from the illegal vendors who frequently set up shop outside his establishment. He explained that these vendors routinely harassed his customers when they declined to purchase counterfeit bags.
He expressed relief that they have been temporarily removed, at least for the time being.
The police have asserted their commitment to maintaining a presence in this section of Canal Street, near Broadway, to deter the resurgence of these illicit vendors.
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