Toronto police bust large-scale counterfeit FIFA World Cup jersey operation

With the FIFA World Cup set to kick off in just 10 days, Toronto police say they have made the largest seizure of counterfeit soccer jerseys in Canadian history.

The Toronto Police Service announced Monday that officers uncovered approximately $3.5 million worth of fake sports merchandise during an investigation targeting criminal activity connected to the world's biggest sporting event.

Police executed a search warrant at a warehouse in Mississauga and seized roughly 16,000 counterfeit branded jerseys, along with flags and two replica World Cup trophies.

Two individuals, 41-year old Ramy Jaber of Milton and 62-year-old Walid Sarhan of Mississauga, were arrested and face charges including fraud over $5,000 and several additional offences.

According to the police, the suspects were operating under the name Amana Trading Company and allegedly used the business to distribute counterfeit merchandise to retail stores at a lower cost. The stores then sold the jerseys at a premium price, thinking they were real.

The Toronto Police seized roughly 16,000 counterfeit branded jerseys, along with flags and two replica World Cup trophies. (Toronto Police Service)

The police warn customers looking to purchase FIFA World Cup merchandise to remain vigilant to spelling mistakes and the quality of the item.

"It's a crime of opportunity," Toronto Police Deputy Chief Robert Johnson said to reporters on Monday. "We want people to feel confident they are buying an authentic product and are not being scammed by deepfakes."

The investigation began on May 12 after police received a tip about the operation. Officers spent the following weeks gathering evidence before obtaining a search warrant for the warehouse on May 26.

When officers entered the facility, they discovered thousands of counterfeit items intended for sale ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The police said FIFA was not involved in the investigation, and estimated the total value of the seized merchandise at approximately $3.5 million.

Anyone who unknowingly purchased a counterfeit product is asked to contact the police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.