NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The NYPD seized over $10 million in knockoff merchandise from vendors on Canal Street Monday, authorities said.
During a press conference, officials said the department had gotten numerous complaints about the fake purses, sneakers, belts and other items being sold on the Lower Manhattan streets.
Seventeen people were arrested as part of the operation and three truckloads of fake items were hauled away.
A counterfeit recognition specialist was on hand to determine whether the merchandise was real or not. The top charge for those arrested was trademark counterfeiting of property over $1,000, a felony crime.
According to the NYPD, complaints were coming in from local small businesses, business improvement districts, residents and manufacturers of goods.
“This really impacts local businesses in a negative manner as well as reduces the quality of life of the residents of the Canal Street area,” NYPD Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey said at the news conference.
Maddrey added that community partners are going to make sure they explain the “right way to obtain a general vendor's license” so that people can earn a living “the right way.”
“Our message is simple to the small businesses,” Maddrey said. “We hear you, we support you. And we'll continue to do these operations.”
The $10 million in merchandise will all have to be logged into the NYPD's system but what happens to the items after that is unclear.
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