Counterfeit Padres, Manchester United merchandise worth over $143K seized

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Homeland Security Investigations San Diego conducted two separate operations this month that resulted in the seizure of over $143,000 worth of counterfeit baseball and soccer merchandise.

The counterfeit baseball merchandise was Padres gear, according to HSI . The government security group along with the Padres, Major League Baseball and the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center captured 1,163 counterfeit items with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $86,000.

The counterfeit soccer merchandise was Manchester United gear in which HSI and the English professional soccer team seized 521 counterfeit items with an MSRP of $57,000.

“HSI San Diego is committed to working with industries, such as MLB and the English Premier League’s Manchester United, in maintaining the integrity of their brands. The recent seizures of counterfeit items highlight our ongoing efforts to combat counterfeit operations and safeguard the American supply chain,” said HSI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Chris Davis. “We appreciate the collaboration with the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center and industry partners, which have been instrumental in disrupting these illegal activities and ensuring that counterfeit products do not reach our customers.”

An estimated $28.1 million worth of counterfeit sports-related items have been seized between February 2023 and February 2024 as part of Operation Team Player, per HSI.

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