Holiday Raids Seize $4M In Fake Goods, 10 Arrested

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Authorities say 10 people have been arrested and more than $4 million in counterfeit goods has been seized during a holiday-season raid.

"Operation Chimney Sweep" seized pirated movies, music and knock-off apparel throughout the city of Los Angeles.

"People who make counterfeit goods are stealing, plain and simple, its the same as picking someone's pocket or shoplifting," City Controller Wendy Greuel said. "We lose more than 100,000 jobs and billions of dollars to our economy each year because of these crimes.

"During these difficult economic times, every dollar lost to piracy represents wages lost for hard-working Angelenos," she said. "This should serve as a wake-up call, not only the criminals that produce and sell these illegal goods, but to all of the holiday shoppers out there."

The Los Angeles Police Department's anti-piracy team has made nearly 500 arrests and seized $93.8 million worth of illegal goods since 2004.

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