Canal St. counterfeit sales under pressure, but continue

New York Police Department spokesperson Edward Winsky told residents of the Canal St. area on January 27 that the police initiative against #counterfeits continues, but there are still "some conditions I (am not) happy with..."

 

At a meeting held at Police Precinct 1, representing Chinatown, Tribeca and other downtown New York residential areas, Winsky said the anti-counterfeiting measures and sweeps to find illicit goods have led to 2,796 arrests, more than 8,000 summonses, the  seizure of nearly 35,000 counterfeit  handbags and $60,000 in cash made from black market sales.

 

Counterfeit sales peak, but continue

 

Counterfeit activity peaked during the holiday season in the Canal St. "market," something which has been true every year recently.  But there is plenty of activity, sometimes right out in the open.  This blogger was approached four times during a three block walk down Canal St. one recent weekday.  During the walk, a resident of the area pointed to police surveillance personnel on the roofs of two buildings.  As we watched, we saw a group of men point at the police rooftop post and quickly disperse.

 

“We haven’t won the war,” Winsky told the meeting. 

 

Bill would fine buyers of fakes

 

City Council member Margaret Chin, representing the area, introduced a controversial, but important, bill last year that would fine buyers, as well as sellers, of counterfeit and illicit goods.  The bill is scheduled for introduction to the Council in early spring.

 

Read "Crossing Canal Street," one person's account of the infamous Canal St. black market.