HSI operation nets $700,000 in fake NHL goods

DETROIT – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) seized $723,377 in fake sports merchandise after a three-month enforcement initiative targeting counterfeit National Hockey League gear and other sportswear leading up to the 2014 NHL Winter Classic events.

Working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), HSI special agents seized 6,121 items of counterfeit NHL gear and other sportswear, $32,550.38 of which was seized in metro-Detroit with assistance provided by brand protection officers from the NHL, CBP’s Anti-Terrorism/Contraband Enforcement Unit and the Detroit Police. The effort concluded after Wednesday’s 2014 NHL Winter Classic outdoor game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Ann Arbor.

The operation, dubbed Operation Team Player, resulted in seizures of jerseys, hats, T-shirts and other souvenirs. Although most of the seized items were fake NHL merchandise, agents also seized other counterfeit professional sports merchandise. The seizures were part of a crackdown on intellectual property rights (IPR) violations leading up to the NHL Winter Classic events. Operation Team Player is an effort by the HSI-led IPR Center that targets counterfeit sports merchandise from all of the major sports leagues.

"Around every major sports event in this country, we always see a sharp spike in counterfeit merchandise as criminal groups try to exploit the enthusiasm of fans," said Marlon Miller, special agent in charge of HSI Detroit. "They use inferior materials to pump out look-alikes that do not benefit the teams, the players or the associations that have trademarked these goods. Counterfeiting hurts the consumer, it hurts business and it costs American jobs."

"The interagency collaboration for the 2014 NHL Winter Classic truly exemplified our ability to protect the American consumer," said Christopher Perry, director of field operations for CBP. "Our partnership with HSI and other agencies gives us pride in being part of the team that stops counterfeit and pirated goods that steal revenue from legitimate businesses and shortchange buyers who think they’re getting the real deal."

"The NHL very much appreciates the efforts of HSI, and CBP to protect NHL fans from being victimized by counterfeiters and to ensure that legitimate businesses playing by the rules will not be harmed by these illicit activities," said Tom Prochnow, group vice president, legal and business affairs for the NHL.

As the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, HSI plays a leading role in targeting criminal organizations responsible for producing, smuggling, and distributing counterfeit products. HSI focuses not only on keeping counterfeit products off U.S. streets, but also on dismantling the criminal organizations behind this activity.

The HSI-led IPR Center is one of the U.S. government's key weapons in the fight against criminal counterfeiting and piracy. Working in close coordination with the Department of Justice Task Force on Intellectual Property, the IPR Center uses the expertise of its 21 member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions and conduct investigations related to intellectual property theft. Through this strategic interagency partnership, the IPR Center protects the public's health and safety and the U.S. economy.