DHS investigates counterfeit operation
DHS suspects that there is a connection between the sale of counterfeit clothing and funding of terrorist actitivites; the Fresno police raids a clothing store in Fresno, California, and confiscated half a million dollars worth of phony designer jeans, T-shirts, handbags,
and shoes.
After a huge bust at a downtown Fresno clothing store involving counterfeit merchandise, KFSN-TV Fresno wanted to know just exactly why homeland security had gotten involved. DHS experts say counterfeit clothing sales are often linked to drug trafficking and terrorist activities.
Fresno police raided Jazzy Jeans N Things clothing store on Fresno and F Street. They confiscated half a million dollars worth of phony designer jeans, T-shirts, handbags, and shoes. The store’s owner, Bobby Griffin — also known as Bobby Smallwood — was arrested on felony charges of possession and sale of counterfeit merchandise.
Sergeant Ron Grimm, part of the homeland security team within the Fresno police department, says he has been told that counterfeit items, whether it is clothes or airplane parts, are often linked to organized crime and sometimes even international terrorism. In the case of Jazzy Jeans he is not really sure. Grimm said, “There is very little likelihood that there is a direct connection to international terrorism based on this investigation. However, the profits from counterfeit merchandise have been identified as supporting other criminal enterprises. That’s the message we want to get across.”
The investigation is far from over. Police wants to know who provided all the cash to buy the counterfeit merchandise and where the profits from the operation have gone.
