As the threat of illegal and counterfeit goods continues to grow due to fake products being readily available for purchase online from overseas manufacturers, US agencies are cracking down where they can. Last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) San Francisco Homeland Security Investigations unit went after sales of merchandise at the National Football League's Monday Night Football game at Oakland Coliseum. As noted in the San Francisco Chronical story linked below, "ICE targeted vendors of unauthorized T-shirts, hats, caps and bandannas. The agency said the raid was done in partnership with NFL brand security representatives and state and local law enforcement... Tatum King, special agent in charge of the San Francisco Homeland Security Investigations unit, said about 400 pieces of merchandise were seized but no one was arrested..." King went on to note that this type of ICE raid isn't simply about ensuring that cheap knockoff products don't fall into the hands of the public, and that the issue is far deeper. ICE has previously underscored that counterfeiting is a serious issue that needs to be addressed nation-wide. They note that it costs American jobs and places consumers at risk. Further, they argue that the profits from such merchandise are often used to fund transnational criminal organizations which often also engage in the usage of child labor, human trafficking, and other illegal activities. Link to the San Francisco Chronical piece: https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/ICE-conducts-raid-at-Oakland-Raiders-game-on-14438536.php
No Comments Yet
Let us know what you think