GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A week before Valentine’s Day, the Gwinnett County Police Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigators seized millions of dollars in fake designer goods from a Lawrenceville business. The merchandise was enough to fill two shipping containers.
“They found a lot of counterfeit luxury goods, such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, different types of items being displayed as luxury true brands that were counterfeited,” said Hideshi Valle, a Gwinnett County officer.
After a lengthy investigation, police arrested Jessica Llama, 31, and Melvin Cortez, 33. Authorities say they obtained the counterfeit goods from Mexico to sell online.
“Some individuals might know it’s counterfeit; others might not. We just want to make sure our consumers are aware of items that may be counterfeit,” said Valle.
The Gwinnett Police Special Investigation Section Vice Unit seized over 9,000 counterfeit items valued at over $16,000,000 MSRP from a business named Real Moda with the assistance of CBP in Memphis, TN and (HSI). #GwinnettPd #Police
— Gwinnett County Police (@GwinnettPd) February 8, 2022
For more info: https://t.co/3s6fX28VgS pic.twitter.com/DEz6Pu5Tgz
Federal officials say the sale of designer counterfeit goods is a growing multibillion-dollar underground market.
They say before someone spends a small amount of money on a knock-off Chanel purse, they should consider the possible forced labor and human suffering behind it.
“It’s produced as cheaply as possible in as terrible conditions as possible. These are definitely sweatshops. It’s encouraging the mistreatment of workers. It’s modern-day slavery,” said Michael Neipert, CBP’s director of Memphis area ports.
The two charged in the counterfeit merchandise operation have been released on bond.
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