Toronto police are calling a recent seizure of more than $3 million in counterfeit soccer jerseys the largest in Canadian history as the FIFA World Cup gets ready for kickoff next weekend.
Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the investigation and police allege that proceeds from the multimillion-dollar counterfeit merchandise ring were being used to fund organized crime.
“This was a large-scale operation, designed to exploit fans and take advantage of their love for sports,” Deputy Chief Robert Johnson said during a June 1 press conference at Toronto police headquarters.
Superintendent David Ecklund said officers confiscated more than 16,000 counterfeit jerseys and flags that copied reputable brands like Nike, Adidas, and Puma. Officers also found two fake FIFA World Cup trophies. Ecklund said the counterfeit sports merchandise had an estimated street value of more than $3.5 million….