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 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.

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 FIFA World Cup.

Police estimate the total value of the seized merchandise at approximately $3.5 million.

More to come...