Toronto police seize $12 million in counterfeit goods including Blue Jays gear

TORONTO – Toronto police say they have seized more than $12 million in counterfeit goods including Blue Jays jerseys, headphones and purses as part of an ongoing operation.

Acting Staff Supt. Bryce Evans says police seized “a large quantity” of Blue Jays gear near the team’s downtown stadium during their hot run in September and into October when they played to sold-out crowds during the playoffs.

Evans says part of the investigation led police to a Montreal company that was allegedly making counterfeit Beats by Dr. Dre headphones.

He says $1 million of those headphones were sold to Groupon who then sold them online.

They say $100,000 were seized in a sting operation along with $45,000 cash.

Lorne Lipkus, a lawyer who represents many of the companies whose goods were being knocked off, says thousands of “cheap metal pieces” with the names Gucci or Prada would be placed on $2 purses that sold anywhere from $20 to $200.