U.S., Canada Seize $76 Million In Fake Cisco Hardware

February 28, 2008 9:18 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies, with cooperation from Chinese authorities and Cisco representatives, have seized more than $76 million worth of fake computer products.

Authorities seized counterfeit Cisco network routers, switches, network cards, modules and other hardware; some of it made as long ago as 2005. The raid, an ongoing joint U.S. and Canadian operation dubbed Operation Cisco Raider, targeted supply chains that brought the fake goods into North America.

The operation brought together the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) along with Canada's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Virginia said the FBI seized 3,500 fake network components worth over $3.5 million, convicted 10 people for smuggling the items and has won $1.7 million in restitution over the last two years. The ICE and CBP made over 74,000 seizures valued at $73 million since 2005.

Meanwhile, the RCMP charged two people and a company with distributing large quantities of counterfeit hardware to American companies via the Internet. Agents seized 1,600 fake Cisco products valued at $2 million from the suspects.