IPR Center reveals how one lead can be worth a million dollars

If you’ve ever wondered how a simple lead can develop into a full blown investigation, look no further than the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel in Dallas where recent information quickly led to the seizure of more than $1.3 million worth of counterfeit goods.

Recently a senior intelligence research specialist assigned to the IPR Center Intelligence Section (IPRIS) initiated an investigative lead with the help of his colleagues. The initial lead was then further developed with the assistance of the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA), a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit partnership, where HSI special agents assigned to IPRIS work side-by-side with representatives from private industry, government, and academia to identify, mitigate, and disrupt cybercrime.

In this case, the lead made its way from IPRIS and NCFTA personnel to intelligence research specialists assigned to the HSI-Dallas intelligence group that was able to further expand the findings. This great teamwork was culminated by HSI Dallas special agents who conducted a search of a Dallas-area residence, seizing nearly 6,000 counterfeit items that – if genuine – would have sold on the street for more than $1.3 million.

Although the original lead identified large quantities of counterfeit Bayer Seresto dog and cat flea/tick collars from China, special agents also discovered other counterfeit merchandise bearing trademarks that included Disney and Marvel DVD movies, Yeti tumblers, Gucci and Louis Vuitton watch bands, and adidas Yeezy Boost sneakers.

For more information on the work of the IPR Center Intelligence Section (IPRIS), please visit: https://www.iprcenter.gov/file-repository/ipu-ipris-fact-sheet.pdf/view

For more on the NCFTA, please visit their website: www.ncfta.net