The demand for fakes of famous brands in New York supports the illegal industry

“Chanel bags” and “Rolex watches,” which can be bought in New York Chinatown shops for symbolic sums, are just the tip of the iceberg of the illegal counterfeit industry. Behind them are international criminal groups uniting smugglers, sellers and counterfeiters. Moreover, the latter often use child labor for their own selfish purposes.

Despite the fact that in the United States and in New York in particular, there are laws prohibiting the sale of fakes, they are rarely enforced. Trade is driven by stable demand for goods. Knowing that they will always find a buyer, the sellers are ready to take risks and sell fake bags, perfumes and watches right in front of the police and regulatory agencies.

Especially sharply the popularity of fakes is growing during the winter holidays. Many people do not shy away from buying fake items as gifts, and tourists are happy to buy Louis Vutton bags for 30 dollars and Rolex watches for 50. Do not forget that the real Rolex model 2014, the year is more than 10 000 dollars.

Counterfeits are manufactured in underground Chinese factories, where both adults and children work in difficult conditions. Most of the fake branded items, however, are sold in China itself, however, quite a few fakes fall into the countries of the West, in particular, the USA.

“There is a huge demand for these products,” says Brian Brokate, a lawyer with the New York firm Gibney, Anthony and Flaherty, who represents Rolex in cases that expose counterfeit dealers. “This business is too profitable for scammers to just stop doing it.”

New York City Police and the City’s Anti-Organized Crime Department are trying to get illegal product sellers to account. In early December, for example, they arrested seven people in Queens. The detainees were engaged in fakes of famous premium brands. Authorities seized more goods worth more than 2,2 million. They were “designer” women's handbags, wallets, gloves and watches. Fraudsters sold fake items from brands like Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vutton and others.