LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Four Michigan men face felony charges after allegedly participating in a large-scale counterfeit product criminal enterprise that operated for years across both Amazon and Walmart online marketplaces.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said the operation allegedly specialized in the illegal trade of counterfeit luxury brand perfumes and colognes.

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In October 2023, Walmart Global Security contacted the Department of Attorney General’s Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement (FORCE) Team to assist in an investigation into suspected counterfeit cologne and perfume merchants. That investigation revealed the alleged counterfeit distribution network.

Two years later, various law enforcement agencies executed search warrants in Port Huron. Authorities allegedly seized more than 300 boxes of counterfeit fragrances. A second series of search warrants in Sterling Heights lead to  more than 100,000 boxes of suspected counterfeit perfume and cologne seized by officials. The alleged counterfeit perfumes included several fragrances from Victoria’s Secret, Bleu de Chanel, Abercrombie & Fitch, and L’Oréal.

Shuba Barua, 29, of Sterling Heights, Ahasan Khan, 28, of Sterling Heights, and Bilal Ahmed, 28, of Warren face various charges related to the alleged counterfeiting.

“Counterfeiting is an organized retail crime – and not a victimless offense.” Nessel said. “It steals from legitimate business, deceives consumers, undermines brand integrity, and may endanger unsuspecting customers with unregulated product sourced from unverifiable chemical plants.”

Edward Henkel, senior manager of Walmart Global Investigations, said the company is committed defending their customers from those who seek to take advantage of them.  “This case demonstrates the power of public-private partnership to hold counterfeiters accountable and strengthen trust with consumers,” he said.