RCMP bust nets $25M in counterfeit goods
Posted October 28, 2011 9:38 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The RCMP and Canadian border officials have seized millions of dollars worth of counterfeit goods ahead of the busy holiday shopping season.
The Mounties say they intercepted shipping containers filled with medication, clothes, purses, boots, sunglasses, scarves, watches and perfume.
“We seized approximately $25 million worth of counterfeit goods in 14 different seizures with more to come,” Insp. Todd Gilmore said at a news conference in Newmarket Friday morning.
“The message I would like to get out to consumers and the public [is] beware of counterfeit goods. They are always manufactured with no regard for health and safety.”
Business owners and retailers are applauding the move, which they say is good for the overall Canadian economy.
“Retailers think it’s a fantastic day and we commend the RCMP because $25 million worth of counterfeit goods off the market…means retailers can sell legitimate goods, which has a huge impact on the Canadian economy,” Anne Kothawala of the Retail Council of Canada.
“Anything can be counterfeit, if there’s a demand for it,” Gilmore told CityNews.
Police say most of the phony products came from organized crime groups.
So far, no arrests have been made, but the RCMP continues to investigate.
