Federal investigators said they seized more than $76 million in counterfeit items after a six-week sting operation in three countries, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
ICE agents and other federal officials working with South Korean and Mexican officials snagged more than 327,000 fake goods, including toys, cellphones, handbags, perfume, sports jerseys, and other items.
“Counterfeiting remains a significant problem that demands strong enforcement efforts both here and abroad,” said ICE Director John Morton in a statement.
The agents targeted points of entry, flea markets, ports, retail stores, and swap meets between Nov. 1 and Dec. 9, ICE said. The operation covered 66 cities in the United States and 55 cities in Mexico, and Seoul, South Korea.
The sting, dubbed Operation Holiday Hoax II, also resulted in the arrest of 33 people, who face charges for trafficking counterfeited items.
During its first incarnation in 2009, a holiday hoax sting netted more than $26 million in counterfeited goods, ICE said.
