Toronto police have seized $3.5 million in counterfeit sports merchandise ahead of the World Cup
Two men were arrested after police searched a warehouse in Mississauga
Ahead of the World Cup, Toronto police have arrested two men in relation to a $3.5-million counterfeit sports merchandise scam—the largest known seizure of counterfeit soccer jerseys in Canadian history, according to a media release.
The Toronto Police Service FIFA Planning Team Investigative Unit started investigating the counterfeit merchandise last month, after receiving a tip.
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A Mississauga warehouse was allegedly used to store the merchandise, which included jerseys, hats and flags. When police searched the warehouse, as well as a nearby vehicle and trailers, they found more than 16,000 fake products, which used the logos of Adidas, FIFA, Nike and Puma. They also found two counterfeit FIFA World Cup trophies.
A 41-year-old from Milton and a 62-year-old from Mississauga now face charges including fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and passing off wares or services with intent to deceive or defraud.
Deputy police chief Rob Johnson said in the statement that, “This was a large-scale operation designed to exploit fans and take advantage of their love for sports. It is a reminder to fans to be vigilant.”
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Carly Lewis is a journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times and the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Wired, Interview Magazine, Pitchfork, Elle, and Maclean’s, where she is a contributing editor. Her work has been recognized by the National Magazine Awards and the Digital Publishing Awards. She reports on city life, culture—including what people do online—politics, art and crime. She received the Dave Greber Freelance Writers Award for “The Murder of Ashley Wadsworth,” an investigative feature about a Canadian teenager who was killed by a man she met on social media, published by Maclean’s.
