By Randall Yip, AsAmNews Executive Editor
The New York Police Department announced the seizure of more than $10 million in counterfeit goods off the streets of New York Chinatown.
Authorities say they arrested 17 people in the vicinity of Canal and Broadway Streets.
They found three large truckloads of high-end trademark counterfeit merchandise.
NYPD Chief of Patrol Jeffrey Maddrey described the scene in Chinatown as “property everywhere, merchandise everywhere,” during a news conference watched online by AsAmNews.
“We recognize during the holiday’s activities like these will increase. Our efforts to deter this conduct will be ongoing,” said Maddrey.
He said the enforcement action came after complaints from local merchants.
He says the selling of fake goods hurts small businesses, the companies that sell high-end products and adversely impact the neighborhoods where the goods are sold.
The 17 arrested will face a felony charge of trademark counterfeiting.
Maddrey’s message to small business “We hear you. we support yuu and we will continue to do these operations.”
While it is illegal to sell fake goods, it is not illegal to buy them. Consumers will not face prosecution.
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