16,000 fake jerseys, 2 fake trophies, 150 birds, 2 hamsters

A Mississauga warehouse, a Shenzhen Bay rucksack, and a set of personal luggage at Lok Ma Chau — June 1 produced three seizures across two continents, ranging from CAD$3.564 million down to HK$40.

On May 26, Toronto Police Service officers executing four Criminal Code search warrants on a Mississauga warehouse, the vehicles outside, and an on-site trailer found 16,000+ counterfeit soccer jerseys and flags — Canada jerseys, Argentina Messi 10s, Portugal kits, Croatia away shirts, Liverpool, FC Barcelona, and more — plus some fake NFL jerseys, all sourced from overseas. 1 Tucked among the folded kits were two replica FIFA World Cup trophies, also counterfeit. 2

The street value of the haul: exactly CAD$3,564,000 — the largest counterfeit soccer merchandise seizure in Canadian history. 1 Police announced the bust at a June 1 press conference, eleven days before Toronto hosts Canada versus Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener. 3

The investigation started May 12 when brand-protection firm Lipkus Law LLP — a member of the Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network — filed a complaint with the TPS FIFA Planning Team Investigative Unit. Two weeks later, officers arrested Ramy Jaber, 41, of Milton, Ontario, and Walid Sarhan, 62, of Mississauga. The two had been running the distribution under the name Amana Trading Company, supplying fake merchandise to retail shops across the Greater Toronto Area. Customers at those shops were paying full authentic-goods prices. 1 4

Both men face four charges: fraud over CAD$5,000; possession of property obtained by crime over CAD$5,000; passing off wares with intent to deceive; and selling or distributing goods in violation of trademark law on a commercial scale. 1 5 Their first court date is August 17 at Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, Courtroom 202.

Supt. David Ecklund, addressing reporters, put it plainly: "For criminals, it's a crime of opportunity because they know people want to support their favorite team and will prey on that excitement. Often, proceeds of this crime fuels organized crime, including human trafficking." 4

For context on how the fake jersey market compares: in April 2026, UK police seized 4,433 counterfeit jerseys in a pre-World Cup operation described at the time as that country's largest single raid. 5 The Mississauga haul is more than three times that.

Earlier the same day, at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point, a 33-year-old man walked in from the Mainland carrying personal baggage. Inside: 150 live birds in cages, stacked and bundled together. 6 The Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department estimated the birds' value at approximately HK$30,000 — about HK$200 per bird on average.

The man was arrested under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Regulations, which requires a valid health certificate for any imported bird and carries a maximum fine of HK$25,000. 6 The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) took over for follow-up investigation. The official press release does not identify the species; an April 2026 HK Customs bird seizure at the same checkpoint named the birds as "suspected scheduled endangered species" under CITES, but the June 1 release contains no equivalent notation — whether the species differ or identification is still pending is not yet disclosed. 7

Shortly after, at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, a 50-year-old man came through with a rucksack. Officers found 2 live hamsters inside — value estimated at approximately HK$40. 8

The offence is the same as the cat in Issue 7 and the two dogs in Issue 10: illegal importation without a valid permit under the Rabies Regulation (Cap. 421A), which carries a maximum penalty of HK$50,000 and one year's imprisonment. 9 The man was arrested and the case referred to AFCD.

June 1 marked the fourth time in 15 days that a passenger arriving at a Hong Kong land border was caught with live animals hidden in a rucksack or personal baggage: a cat at Lo Wu on May 21, two dogs at Lok Ma Chau on May 28, a cat at Lok Ma Chau earlier the same June 1 morning, then these hamsters at Shenzhen Bay. 8 The hamsters were the cheapest item by a factor of roughly 500 compared to the same day's birds, and by a factor of roughly 1,000 compared to either cat.