Mexican Drug Cartels: NFL

Mexican Drug Cartels Dept: NEW ORLEANS - Investigators have confiscated more than $13.6 million worth of phoney sports merchandise over the past five months and expect to seize more in New Orleans during Super Bowl week, a federal law-enforcement official said Thursday, according to Winnipeg Free Press. And federal investigators say they have intelligence that shows even the Mexican drug cartels are getting involved in the counterfeit NFL black market trade because they can make quick money by selling fake jerseys in flea markets and parking lots and andy Hageman, owner of the House of Football in Albuquerque, N.M., holds an authentic NFL hat, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, while discussing ways of determining fakes. Federal officials announced Thursday that investigators have confiscated more than $13.6 million worth of phony sports merchandise nationwide over the past five months and expect to seize more in New Orleans during Super Bowl week. Homeland Security Investigation officials said that Mexican drug cartels are getting involved in the NFL black market. AP Photo/Russell Contreras U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton said authorities also have shut down more than 300 websites selling counterfeit goods as part of an enforcement effort dubbed "Operation Red Zone." The operation targeted international shipments of jerseys, hats and other souvenirs entering the U.S. for sale by stores, flea markets and street vendors. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.