Los Angeles County Counterfeit and Piracy Enforcement (CAPE)

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Community Partnerships Bureau established the Counterfeit and Piracy Enforcement Team (CAPE) in 2009. CAPE has a successful program focused on combating crimes against intellectual property rights (IPR) through collaboration using three pillars firmly rooted in education, awareness, and enforcement. If granted, CAPE aims to enhance its strategies by fostering stronger partnerships with various entities to boost public health and safety, reduce theft of trade secrets, and intensify operations against large-scale commercial counterfeiting and piracy.

Operating under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with U.S Homeland Security Investigations (HSI IPR Group), Los Angeles City Attorney's Anti-Counterfeit Enforcement Program (LACA), and the California Department of Justice Tax Recovery in the Underground Economy (TRUE), CAPE has made significant strides since receiving the FY2020 BJA grant, seizing over 575,000 counterfeit items valued at more than $210 million. These items include harmful concentrated cannabis products, illicit pharmaceuticals, unsafe automotive parts, electronics, and more.

CAPE plans to strengthen ties with HSI IPR Group, U.S Customs and Border Protection and various law enforcement bodies to aid in targeting large-scale commercial counterfeit operations and enhance collective efforts in combating intellectual property crimes.  Joint investigations will help uncover the intricate network of individuals, businesses, transports, and warehouses engaged in importing and distributing counterfeit goods. CAPE will also establish new partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, building on previous collaborations with the CA Bureau of Cannabis Control, FDA, and other federal entities.  Additionally, CAPE will utilize LACLEAR to deconflict and enhance safety through coordinated investigations.