Feds' roundup nabs $76M in counterfeit goods

The U.S. Customs and Immigration Agency has been busy hunting down Internet sites pawning fake NFL swag.

Gucci, Ugg, Burberry, Coach, Nike and Louis Vuitton. Those were among the brand names of counterfeit goods that federal authorities said they hauled in from what they called one of the largest counterfeit goods smuggling operations ever.

TORONTO — Hockey retailers and manufacturers reacted favourably to news the federal government aims to cut tariffs on equipment of Canada’s official winter sport, offering the possibility that consumer prices will come down. Changes to tariffs, contained in Budget 2013 on Thursday, call for $76-million in annual cuts to everything from sports and athletic equipment to baby clothing “to benefit families and retailers.”

An Interpol-led sting led to the seizure of nearly $30 million worth of counterfeit goods in 11 countries in North and South America, the Lyon-based organisation said on Thursday.About 200 people were arrested in the raids. The goods ranged from toys and cigarettes to engine oil and computer material.Operation Maya, which ran from March 1 to 15, revealed "increasingly elaborate efforts by criminals to avoid detection," a statement said.

Agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI had been investigating for months before seizing the domain names of websites that allegedly sold phony goods such as professional sports jerseys, golf equipment and DVD sets.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Rome police said Saturday they have confiscated 500,000 tonnes of counterfeit goods discovered in eight industrial hangars on the outskirts of the Italian capital."We were amazed" at the quantity of clothes, leather goods, shoes and other accessories illegally imported from Asia, possibly China, a police spokesman told AFP.The hangars are in the San Basilio suburb east of Rome, he said.The ANSA news agency said the goods, once labelled with Italian brands, would have brought in several million euros for the counterfeiters.