FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 6, 2006

COMMERCE SECRETARY GUTIERREZ PRAISES U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS TO PROTECT
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Washington, D.C. - On September 5, 2006 the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security announced the break up of one of the largest counterfeit merchandise smuggling schemes uncovered in recent U.S. history. Federal law enforcement officials seized approximately $16 million worth of fake products including sneakers, apparel and other goods.

“I applaud the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice for their ongoing efforts to protect American intellectual property,” said Gutierrez. “The disruption of this major criminal operation demonstrates the commitment they have made to IP protection and the effectiveness of their efforts.”

Six individuals were charged by the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona and indicted by a grand jury in Tucson for conspiring to smuggle millions of dollars worth of goods into the U.S. from China. These arrests were made as a result of a joint U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation.

The Department of Commerce works closely with DOJ and DHS to promote strong IP protection in the U.S. and internationally. We collaborate through the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council (NIPLECC) and work to fulfill the priorities laid out by the Bush Administration's Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!).