New York Authorities Seized Over $1 Billion Worth Of Fake Handbags And Other Luxury Items

Authorities in New York have confiscated over $1 billion worth of counterfeit handbags, shoes, and luxury goods.

New York’s U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District revealed that they had seized around 219,000 fake bags, clothing items, footwear, and other luxury products from a storage facility. The attorney’s office says these items had a estimated value of approximately $1.03 billion.

“As alleged, the defendants used a Manhattan storage facility as a distribution center for massive amounts of knock-off designer goods,” Williams said. “The seizures announced today consist of merchandise with over a billion dollars in estimated retail value, the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods in U.S. history.  This is a testament to the commitment of this Office and its law enforcement partners to combat counterfeit trafficking in New York City.”

Adama Sow and Abdulai Jalloh’s arrest occurred on Wednesday morning. They currently find themselves facing trafficking of counterfeit goods charge. According to reports, their alleged involvement in illicit activities at a storage facility spans from January to October 2023. Moreover, Jalloh was actively participating in the trafficking of goods not only at the storage facility but also from an offsite location.

Additionally, images of the storage facility, made public by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, depict storage units filled with stacks of handbags and shoes. Additionally, authorities shared a photograph revealing boxes of counterfeit products that were confiscated from the same facility.

“The trafficking of counterfeit goods is anything but a victimless crime because it harms legitimate businesses, governments, and consumers. Today’s indictments show how seriously the NYPD and our federal partners take this offense. And we will continue to work hard to hold accountable anyone who seeks to benefit by selling such items on the black market,” NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said.