Federal agents seize fake NFL merchandise at swap meet
Federal agents and NFL representatives seized counterfeit NFL apparel valued at more than $40,000 from vendors at Aloha Stadium and the International Marketplace, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Merchandise seized included AFC All-Star, NFC All-Star and NFL game jerseys. ICE agents estimated the apparel would have retailed for about $41,000 if genuine.
The raid targeted booths at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, the site of Sunday’s Pro Bowl, and at the International Marketplace in Waikiki.
No arrests were made, but agents said the investigation is ongoing.
"People need to realize that the sale and purchase of counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime," said Marjorie Thompson, acting special agent in charge of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations in Honolulu. "Commercial piracy and product counterfeiting undermine the U.S. economy, rob Americans of jobs, stifle American innovation and promote other types of crime."
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ICE agents say consumers interested in buying genuine items should look for holographic NFL logos as an indication of official merchandise, and should avoid items with incorrect spellings.