Posted on: Tuesday, October 14, 2003

Counterfeit jackets land two in custody

Advertiser Staff

KAHULUI, Maui — Two men were in police custody yesterday after federal luggage screeners at Kahului Airport discovered five large boxes of counterfeit Versace leather jackets.

The two men, believed to be Italian nationals, had not been charged and were being detained on behalf of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service for possible deportation, said Lt. Bill Fernandez of the Maui Police Department. They also are facing criminal charges for trademark counterfeiting, he said.

The suspects are believed to be the same men who sold dozens of fake designer jackets at cut-rate prices at several O'ahu parking lots. Fernandez said Maui police had been in contact with two people who bought the leather jackets after they were approached by the men at the Costco parking lot in Kahului.

The suspects were arrested after checking in at the airport just before noon Sunday. Fernandez said that when federal Transportation Security Administration luggage screeners opened the boxes and found the clothing, they called police.