WASHINGTON – If you’ve ever wondered how a simple lead can develop into a full blown
investigation, look no further than the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center
(IPR Center) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel in Dallas where recent
information quickly led to the seizure of more than $1.3 million worth of counterfeit goods.
Recently a senior intelligence research specialist assigned to the IPR
Center Intelligence Section (IPRIS) initiated an investigative lead with the
help of his colleagues. The initial lead was then further developed with
the assistance of the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance
(NCFTA), a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit partnership, where HSI special
agents assigned to IPRIS work side-by-side with representatives from
private industry, government, and academia to identify, mitigate, and
disrupt cybercrime.
In this case, the lead made its way from IPRIS and NCFTA personnel to intelligence research
specialists assigned to the HSI-Dallas intelligence group that was able to further expand the
findings. This great teamwork was culminated by HSI Dallas special agents who conducted a
search of a Dallas-area residence, seizing nearly 6,000 counterfeit items that – if genuine – would
have sold on the street for more than $1.3 million.
Although the original lead identified large quantities of counterfeit
Bayer Seresto dog and cat flea/tick collars from China, special
agents also discovered other counterfeit merchandise bearing
trademarks that included Disney and Marvel DVD movies, Yeti
tumblers, Gucci and Louis Vuitton watch bands, and adidas
Yeezy Boost sneakers.
For more information on the work of the IPR Center Intelligence
Section (IPRIS), please visit: https://www.iprcenter.gov/filerepository/ipu-ipris-fact-sheet.pdf/view