There will be fewer knock-off products on some store shelves this holiday season after police busted a major counterfeit ring.
Hand bags, make-up, even ice wine and Viagra…all of it fake and destined for consumers across Canada and the U.S.
“Good which pose potential health risks to Canadian consumers and rob consumers of their hard earned dollars by providing sub-standard and potentially hazardous goods,” said Detective Derek Wilson from the Toronto Police Service.
Police seized $6.5 worth of bogus goods – including bus tokens, jewelry, watches and even contact lenses.
Police forces across the province raided businesses selling the ripped off products in the GTA, Windsor, and even one vendor at the 400 Market who was selling phony MAC cosmetics. Most of the products were manufactured abroad and smuggled into the country. Investigators say sales are being used to fund organized criminal groups. Lawyer Loren Lipkus represents several major brands.
“The people that are making these products that are manufacturing them are supporting child labour, force labour. They are criminals who only want to make money and don’t care about the safety of these products that we got.”
Scott Saunders is the General Manager at the 400 Market and says with 500 vendors it’s almost impossible to control what’s real and what’s fake.
“Unfortunately we have an open door policy for a lot of retailers and the amount of product coming in is very hard to monitor on a weekend to weekend basis.”
Saunders says the market tries to police products that must be CSA approved but it’s really a case of buyer beware.
“You have to be aware of what you’re purchasing. If it’s too good of a deal…more often than not it is.”
A warning police are stressing to consumers especially now that holiday shopping has started because the fake products often don’t meet Canada’s health and safety standards.
Twenty-one people have been arrested and are facing more than 100 charges. The investigation continues and police expect to make more arrests.
