2 men charged in counterfeit soccer merch ring that Toronto police are calling largest in Canadian history

2 men charged in counterfeit soccer merch ring that Toronto police are calling largest in Canadian history

Police say total value of seized jerseys, flags exceeds $3.5M

Less than two weeks out from the start of the World Cup, Toronto police say two men are facing charges linked to what investigators are calling the largest seizure of counterfeit soccer merchandise in Canadian history.

Speaking at a news conference Monday afternoon, Deputy Chief Robert Johnson told reporters that police have been proactively targeting crimes that tend to spike during major sporting events.

"This was a large-scale operation designed to exploit fans and take advantage of their love for sports," Johnson said.

According to a police news release, officers began their investigation last month after receiving a complaint from Lipkus Law LLP — a law firm that's part of the Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network.

That led investigators to a warehouse in Mississauga that was "in possession of a large quantity" of fake merchandise including jerseys, flags and hats, which were being supplied to retail stores, investigators say.

Police seized over 16,000 items purporting to be name-brands like FIFA, Nike, Adidas and Puma, with investigators saying in the news release the seizure amounted to an estimated street value of just over $3.5 million.

A 41-year-old man from Milton, Ont., and a 62-year-old man from Mississauga, Ont., have both been arrested and charged with fraud over $5,000, alongside multiple other fraud-related charges.

Supt. David Ecklund told reporters that proceeds made in counterfeiting rings often help fund other elements of organized crime.

"Given the size of this seizure, we believe the two men were running this scam for some time," he said.

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David Lipkus from Lipkus Law LLP said at the news conference that anyone concerned about buying counterfeit goods should check the overall look and feel of an item, as well as checking for spelling mistakes on branding and tags.

Seeing a "premium brand" offered for a "bargain-basement price" can be another red flag, he said.

Lipkus said if someone believes they unknowingly purchased counterfeit goods, they should report it to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

"Counterfeiting isn't a victimless crime. It funds illicit networks and compromises your safety," he said.

Adam Carter is a Newfoundlander who now calls Toronto home. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamCarterCBC or drop him an email at adam.carter@cbc.ca.

With files from The Canadian Press