MINNEAPOLIS -- Officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement seized more than 17,000 counterfeit items from reputable Metro businesses in a five-day span last week, with an estimated street value of $643,000. Actual value is around $3-million.
Claude Arnold, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations, says it's the largest one his office has done in the three years he's been there.
"The American consumer is the victim," Arnold said.
The seized items include counterfeit perfume, clothing, purses, batteries, jewelry, shoes and many other products. The items bear the names of 130 brands, including Gucci, Coach, Louis Vuitton, MLB, BMW, Nike, Tiffany, Givenchy and Dior.
"There are merchants who don't know they are obtaining counterfeit items," said Arnold. "It's the same thing with the consumer, if the price is too good to be true, it's too good to be true. (The stores) know when they are not buying from a reputable seller," Arnold added.
The counterfeit items were taken from 21 Twin Cities-area businesses. Officials did not name the businesses because it is an on-going investigation. The stores will remain open, but could be charged.
ICE also said selling "knock off" items are legal, because they are not trying to come across as being the exact brand.
"Knock off's look similar to the real thing, for example on a Coach bag, it says G instead a C," said Arnold.
Selling counterfeit items are illegal because they are deliberately trying to come across as the brand.
With some moderate training, consumers can detect some counterfeit items.
"If you look at stitching, you notice several spots where the stitches are over stitches, especially in the corners," an Agent said.
ICE agents also showed KARE 11 that counterfeit Estee' Lauder boxes were wrapped like a Christmas present, and not tightly wrapped.
Batteries were in the mix of counterfeit items as well. They had not been tested, which could lead to leaking acid.
"If you look at these batteries, you see a pink duracell bunny on them, when it would actually be an energizer bunny. The chinese writing also gives it away."
For consumers with a "who cares, I'm saving money" mentality...
"It's not a victimless crime, you put Americans out of work and you're supporting organized crime," Arnold said.
(Copyright 2009 by KARE the Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
