ATLANTA — Thousands of dollars' worth of counterfeit merchandise was seized at a southwest Atlanta discount mall on Thursday.
Federal agents took around 1,500 items, including Atlanta Falcons and other professional sports teams’ merchandise, from the Greenbriar Discount Mall on Headland Drive.
"You got different teams. You got the Patriots. We got the Falcons as well," said Homeland Security agent Bryan Cox.
The items were worth more than $35,000.
Only Channel 2 Action News was there as agents bagged up a kiosk inside the mall and questioned the operator.
"Everything that we're seeing so far we've identified as not legitimate. We have not identified any legitimate NFL merchandise," Cox said.
For fans who think buying fake merchandise is not a big deal, agents said the profits often fund organized crime.
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"With hundreds of other people, we're talking about a massive amount of money going to the black market to support these criminal organizations," Cox said.
Federal agents said the goal is to find the source of the fake goods.
"Work this up the chain, identify the source and disrupt the place where these are being manufactured and distributed illegally into the country," Cox said.