Knockoffs Get Knocked Out
September 2, 2026 – Arcadia, CA – Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials report that in early August, the Community Partnership Bureau - Counterfeit and Piracy Enforcement Team (CAPE) received information regarding a shipment at a port of entry that was intercepted and inspected. During the inspection, large amounts of counterfeit Adidas, Nike, and other trademarked branded streetwear items were discovered. The shipment was addressed to a commercial warehouse business located on the 11600 block of Goldring Road in the city of Arcadia.
On August 25, 2026, CAPE Team Deputies and federal special agents served a search warrant at the location for sales and distribution of counterfeit trademarked goods. Approximately 25,898 items of counterfeit luxury-branded streetwear merchandise were seized totaling an estimated retail value of $10,000,000. There were no arrests made at the time of the search warrant, and the suspect who owns the business remains outstanding. The investigation into the business remains ongoing.
The CAPE Team works closely with LASD patrol stations and detectives to present techniques in identifying items that may be counterfeit, and to further investigations into the businesses that sell or otherwise distribute counterfeit or pirated goods. The CAPE Team actively monitors events where counterfeit products are commonly offered for sale, most recently including the 2026 World Cup events held in Los Angeles. The CAPE Team also provides information to the public via social media to identify common, everyday items such as laundry detergent, dog food, and veterinary medicine which has seen an increase in counterfeit production but can be unsafe for use.
The mission of the Counterfeit and Piracy Enforcement (CAPE) Team is to investigate, identify, apprehend, and prosecute persons who engage in the sale and manufacture of counterfeit goods, and enforce those laws and ordinances related to intellectual property rights (IPR) crimes which substantially interfere with quality of life, the health and safety risks of residents, community wellbeing, and lawful commerce. The CAPE Team works collaboratively with existing local, state, and federal law enforcement task forces, the Tax Recovery and Criminal Enforcement Task Force (TRaCE) the Los Angeles City Attorney (LACA), Anti-Counterfeit Enforcement Program, and private investigation agencies to reduce and prevent the spread of dangerous counterfeit goods within Los Angeles County. In the last year alone, the CAPE Team has served approximately twenty-five warrants at various locations throughout Los Angeles County and recovered approximately 200,000 items valued between $15,000,000 and $25,000,000.
If you have any information regarding counterfeit or pirated property, please call your local LASD Sheriff's Station or law enforcement agency.
If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website https://lacrimestoppers.org
Source & photos: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 
