More than $100,000 in counterfeit goods have been taken off the streets thanks to a partnership between the Robeson County Sheriff’s office and the NC Secretary of State’s Office. The counterfeit items include CDs, perfume, handbags, clothing and more.
Counterfeit brands that were seized included Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Versace, Ray Ban, Oakley and Timberland. The counterfeit items were seized from 12 businesses located in Lumberton, Maxton, Pembroke, and Red Springs, according to reports.
The arrests come after months of planning and preparation and were a continuation of the efforts of Operation Zero Hour. Zero Hour was a three-day operation involving the US Marshals Service, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, Lumberton Police Department, NC Highway Patrol and other agencies. During Operation Zero Hour, 123 people were arrested on a variety of charges including murder.
Arrested were:
*Mark Lee Williams of Elizabethtown Road, Bladenboro. He was charged with possessing $22,490.25 worth of counterfeit goods.
*Imran Albarati of Nye road, Lumberton was arrested on May 10. He was charged with possessing pirated CDs.
*Nashat Abdelaziz of Kale Road, Lumberton, was arrested on May 10 and charged with possession of pirated CDs and for dispensing pirated contact lenses without a license.
*Adnan Rashad Alsaidi of Edinburgh Road, Raeford was charged with possession of counterfeit CDs and DVDs, counterfeit NFL merchandise and dispensing contact lenses without a license.
*Abdel Hadi Sarama of West Second Avenue in Red Springs was charged with possession of counterfeit CDs and possession with intent to sell counterfeit products.
*Manal Abdelaziz of Covington Street, Laurinburg was charged with possessing counterfeit herbal Viagra and pirated CDs.
*Gregory Earl Johnson of Hamer, South Carolina was charged with possession with intent to sell counterfeit CDs, DVDs, handbags hats and wallets.
*James Earl Ferguson of Dairy Road, Red Springs was charged with possession with intent to sell counterfeit sunglasses, watches, cologne and shoes.
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