Toronto police charge two men in counterfeit soccer merchandise case
Toronto counterfeit soccer merchandise seizure exposes Canada’s largest fake gear bust Police found 16,000 items worth $3.5M before the World Cup; see the charges
Toronto police say two men have been charged after investigators seized what they describe as the largest haul of counterfeit soccer merchandise in Canadian history.
Police said the operation was uncovered after a complaint from a law firm linked to the Canadian AntiCounterfeiting Network. Investigators then searched a warehouse in Mississauga, where they found more than 16,000 fake jerseys, flags, hats and other items that were being supplied to retail stores.
Officials estimate the seized goods had a street value of more than $3.5 million. Police said the case comes less than two weeks before the World Cup begins, a period when they say counterfeit sales often increase around major sporting events. A 41yearold Milton man and a 62yearold Mississauga man face fraudrelated charges.