Police Arrest 2, Seize Counterfeit Fragrances At Perfume District Establishment
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police this week seized more than 10,000 counterfeit perfume and makeup items in Perfume District on Broadway, and arrested and charged two men.
Around 12:55 p.m. Wednesday, police seized the counterfeit perfume and makeup from an establishment at 1204 Broadway, near 30th Street. The area is home to numerous wholesale and retail perfume dealers.
Suprakash Barua, 26, of the Bronx, and Mohd Uddin, 51, of Queens, were both charged with trademark counterfeiting.
Police did not provide further details about the arrest or what led them to the site.
CBS 2 reported in February that the counterfeit fragrance market is booming, and as many as 10 percent of all perfumes for sale are phonies.
The impostor products are often made with cheap ingredients, such as alcohol -- or worse, CBS 2 reported in FEbruary
"What is often in fake fragrances are ingredients like antifreeze, poorly based chemicals -- and urine," said Valerie Salembier, president of the Authentics Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising public awareness about counterfeiting.
Fake perfume is sold everywhere. It is typically sold online, by street vendors, and discount retailers. But there are signs to look for.
"If it's too pale, that means it's heavy alcohol," Salembier said. "If it's too dark, it is most likely using faux chemicals."
To avoid buying a counterfeit fragrance, experts advised shopping only at reputable retailers or buying directly from manufacturers.
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