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Federal Agents Make Arrests and Seizures in Counterfeiting Conspiracy Worth $200 Million.

NEWARK, December 5, 2007 -- As part of a federal undercover sting, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 10 individuals on federal criminal charges related to the smuggling of counterfeit goods worth an estimated $200 million.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent posed as corrupt union official at the Port of Newark, where the conspirators hoped bring phony merchandise in through customs by briding the agent with almost $500,000. The cash was allegedly paid to clear the illicit cargo through customs undetected.

The Chinese-made counterfeits were shipped with falsified bills of lading to the Port of Newark before being stored in a number of New York City warehouses and the surrounding metropolitan area. The goods were eventually distributed to retail-level vendors.

The seized merchandise bore the trademarks of Nike, Burberry, Chanel, and Baby Phat among others.

If convicted on all charges, the defendants each face a maximum of 35 years imprisonment, a fine of $2.5 million (or two times the gross gain or loss resulting from the offenses), as well as an order to pay restitution to the legitimate manufacturers whose trademarks were infringed.