NY Mall Kiosks Raided By DHS For "Terrorism" Goods
Some people still might be unaware of just how long the reach of Homeland Security has become. How about counterfeit goods as possible terrorism? That is what has been suggested fairly recently as DHS has begun to conduct an increasing number of raids in several states over the past few years aimed at rooting out this “threat to our liberty and economy.”
Operations such as 2012′s “Operation Fashion Faux Pas” was part of a six-month crackdown that closed 20 businesses. As the video below illustrates, hundreds of others have been swept up in similar raids, many of which began by scouring the Internet for key words and indicators of illegal activity.
The latest example of connecting counterfeit goods to possible acts of terrorism comes out of Amherst, New York where a group of kiosks in the Walden Galleria and Boulevard Mall were shut down. Statements by Homeland Security raise a few questions about their role in this type of crime, which is also mirrored in cybersecurity directives.
According to local CBS news affiliate, WIBV4, agents descended upon two shopping malls, seizing merchandise and closing five kiosks.
Disturbingly, WIBV4 provides a link in their article to “report a business for selling goods you believe to be counterfeit.” However, as we learned in the video above, most people can’t tell what is real or not, hence the alleged problem. And, according to Orange County News reporting on Operation Fashion Faux Pas:
It’s become progressively harder to tell what’s fake and what’s real that agents say they now rely on experts. (Source)
So, even though it is admitted that experts have to be called in for examination, the untrained public is being further encouraged to become involved in the snitch culture continuously promoted by Homeland Security in cooperation with media and other private companies.
buy gold … it’s real |
Furthermore, as we learned from Operation In Our Sites, which led to the seizing of 150 domains on Cyber Monday in 2011, the sweep resulted in a guilty-until-proven-innocent framework where even linking to copyrighted material became part of the counterfeit-intellectual property dragnet. This was in addition to 82 sites seized in the first year of the Operation.
However, Homeland Security is apparently hell-bent upon bringing down its literal and virtual boot wherever it sees fit … naturally, all in the name of security:
Jim Spero, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Buffalo office of Homeland Security, says the sale of counterfeit goods – in Buffalo and beyond – poses a major security threat.
“When you purchase counterfeit goods, when you sell counterfeit goods, you don’t know who you’re dealing with. You don’t know what kind of criminal activity you’re supporting,” Spero said. “It’s actually organized crime that is behind the distribution of these goods. It could be terrorists as well.” (Source)
Other reports have cited cosmetics and suspicious chemicals as part of the justification for Homeland Security’s intervention, in addition to their argument that this type of activity is essentially economic terrorism.
Counterfeiting is a problem, true, but to the level of national security? The real threat to liberty and economic security on a national level more closely comes from the DHS itself and other dangerous agencies of the U.S. government which far outweigh the threat of getting ripped off at the mall.
Furthermore, in a time where the mere accusation of terrorism can get someone locked away indefinitely, it is troubling to see the term being used in such a flippant way.
What is your opinion? Should Homeland Security be devoted to this type of crime? Or is this just one more example of DHS asserting their right to intervene so that it can reach in and examine anyone, anywhere, anytime, and for any reason?
Read other articles by Activist Post Here
Source: http://www.activistpost.com/2013/05/new-york-mall-kiosks-raided-by-homeland.html
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This may be a huge problem, yet how can shop owners tell if items they get for there stores are counterfeit?, DHS needs a expert. This is a example of DHS not doing there job by waiting for imports to reach stores then shutting them down. People work at these stores!.
They should be following the trail of the source of these goods, shutting down shops who are ignorant of the fakes is ludicrous. I see it as harassment at the worst. Will this lead to real fashion police that can arrest people off the street for fake name brand clothes?.
Apparently us commoners do not break laws enough we need terrorism fanatics like DHS targeting private biz. Perhaps they should look for the actual sweat shops filled with illegals sewing these garments in the US and deporting THEM for terrorism for making a few bits for sewing these dangerous clothes, rather than those running the shady operations.
Done with my rant, sorry, I am calm now
They go after the small shops because going after the suppliers might hurt the globalist financed Chinese feelings.
Homeland Security?
The police have nothing more to do.
Here we have US tax dollars once again protecting foreign interest….
Who in their right mind would set up shop just to copy The Biggies? The Biggies have a very rich consumer base which makes even the ugliest stuff into posh. My, how they must laugh at all consumers. The Biggies own all the manufacturing bases already.
Say the folks craving to look like they’re rich will still pay $500 for a $999 bag. ($20 materials & $10 labor) By altering their goods by just a smidge, the Biggies can also land the market just below the Richies. Enter the quickie kiosk market. They can keep their intellectual copyrights and eat them too. The Biggies rake it in at all levels. The Biggies will use anything, even a faux bust, to keep power.
The only thing the DHS is doing here is reinforcing a fascist state — a marriage of Government and Big Biz.
We need to shed the current image of wealth is or we will not be able to discern how we are being suckered.