Terrorism

Does That Counterfeit Bag Support Terrorism?

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Starting Monday, New Yorkers and visitors who happen by city pay phones will see anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting ads aimed at educating the public about “The Real Price of Counterfeit Goods.”

According to the New York Times City Room blog, one of the ads reads: “When you buy counterfeit goods, you support child labor, drug trafficking, organized crime and even worse.”

The blog naturally asks, what’s worse? Is the answer terrorism?

City Room asserts that law enforcement is indeed making that claim, that there’s a connection between terrorism, piracy and counterfeiting.

The blog notes that while claimed links to terrorism may raise eyebrows, the financial impact of piracy and counterfeiting is indisputable.

The new ads are part of a citywide battle against counterfeiting that has included storefront raids, 6,000 summonses and 700 felony arrests, City Room reports.

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