Los Angeles Port Police shut down counterfeit operation

The counterfeit goods included electronics that resembled Apple iPods and iPhones. The electronic devices were shipped from Asia, then falsely labelled and packaged in Los Angeles. The US$2.5m in stolen goods that were recovered include electronics, toys, and blankets stolen from various locations in Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire.

Port police worked on the investigation as part of the Cargo Theft Interdiction Programme (CTIP), a California Highway Patrol initiative that includes participation from Los Angeles Port Police and the City of Vernon Police Department. The counterfeit investigation is being jointly conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) and Port Police. The Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST), comprised of federal, state and local agencies, also played a role in the investigation.

During searches in several Los Angeles locations, Port Police discovered counterfeit products with an estimated street value of more than US$1.4m, stolen goods worth approximately US$2.5m and bank account receipts that indicate profits from the sale of counterfeit merchandise estimated to be more than US$7m.