Police have carried out the largest seizure of counterfeit soccer merchandise in Canadian history, confiscating more than 16,000 fake name-brand jerseys and flags along with two counterfeit FIFA World Cup trophies from a warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario. The seized items have an estimated street value exceeding 3.5 million dollars, underscoring the scale of the counterfeiting operation that was targeting consumers ahead of the FIFA World Cup taking place across North America.
Two men associated with the Mississauga-based company Omni Trading have been arrested in connection with the operation. Ramey Jabber, 41, of Milton, Ontario, and Waleed Sarhan, 62, of Mississauga, face multiple charges including fraud over 5,000 dollars and possession of property obtained by crime over 5,000 dollars. The items had been shipped from overseas to the Omni Trading warehouse for distribution across the Canadian market.
Police were tipped off by the Lipkis Law Firm, which represents some of the legitimate brands whose intellectual property was being infringed upon. According to investigators, while the counterfeit jerseys often appear authentic at first glance, closer examination reveals telltale differences. There are spelling mistakes on some of these tags, police noted. If you look at and feel the products, they don't have the same quality as genuine merchandise.
Perhaps most concerning for consumers, police say that in many cases these counterfeit jerseys were being sent to legitimate retail stores to be sold as if they were authentic products. Customers were walking into established retail outlets believing they were purchasing genuine merchandise, paying full retail prices for items that were in fact counterfeits. It remains unclear whether the store owners were aware that the jerseys were fake, and police say their investigation into the retail distribution chain is ongoing.
The timing of the seizure is particularly significant, coming just days before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Major sporting events consistently trigger a surge in counterfeit merchandise as criminals seek to capitalise on the enormous consumer demand for team jerseys, scarves, flags and other memorabilia associated with the tournament.
The owner of a legitimate store specialising in soccer jerseys expressed frustration at having to compete against counterfeit products that undercut his business. We need to do way, way more, he said. I know our police are doing a good job, but it still is not enough. The proliferation of counterfeits not only damages legitimate businesses but also means consumers receive inferior products that may not meet safety or quality standards.
Police are advising anyone who may have unknowingly purchased a counterfeit jersey to contact law enforcement. The seizure sends a clear message that authorities are treating the counterfeiting of sports merchandise as a serious crime, particularly in the context of a global sporting event being hosted on Canadian soil. The investigation continues as police work to identify any additional individuals or businesses involved in the distribution network.