TORONTO — Just days before the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Toronto Police have carried out the largest seizure of counterfeit soccer jerseys in Canadian history, with two individuals arrested.
The investigation began in May 2026, when the FIFA Planning Team Investigative Unit of the Toronto Police Service received a tip from Lipkus Law LLP, a law firm specializing in trademark protection and a member of the Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network. The complaint concerned a suspected trafficking operation involving counterfeit sports merchandise.
Investigators traced the activity to a warehouse in Mississauga, where a large quantity of fake goods was allegedly stored, including jerseys, hats, flags, and other sports-related items. Following the tip, police launched an investigation and executed a series of search warrants targeting the warehouse, a vehicle, and trailers linked to the operation.
The raid took place on May 26, 2026, involving the FIFA Planning Team Investigative Unit, the Public Safety Response Team, and trademark protection experts from Lipkus Law LLP. Inside the Mississauga facility, officers seized more than 16,000 counterfeit items, including jerseys and flags bearing FIFA, Nike, Adidas, and Puma branding, as well as two fake FIFA World Cup trophies. The total estimated street value of the goods is $3,564,000 – in the pics below, by Toronto Police, the boxes with the seized goods and a small portion of seized items on display.
Two men were arrested: Ramy Jaber, 41, of Milton, Ontario, and Walid Sarhan, 62, of Mississauga, Ontario. Both face multiple charges, including fraud and the commercial distribution of goods in violation of the Trademarks Act. They are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, on August 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in courtroom 202.
“This was a large-scale operation designed to exploit fans and take advantage of their love for sports,” said Deputy Chief Rob Johnson, praising the coordinated work of all units involved and emphasizing the importance of collaboration between police and legal partners.
Lipkus Law LLP also commented on the operation, thanking Toronto Police and describing the seizure as “a major victory in the fight to clear illicit goods from our marketplace,” said David Lipkus.
Police urged the public to exercise caution when purchasing goods, warning against unauthorized sellers that may offer counterfeit products. Officials advised consumers to buy only from trusted retailers, verify online sellers, check official tags and packaging, and be wary of unusually low prices.
Anyone with information about this or other potential frauds is encouraged to contact Toronto Police at 416-808-2222, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or visit www.222tips.com.
In the pic above, Toronto Police’s press conference which can be watched in the video below
