STORM2K

Seized Knockoffs Given To Katrina Evacuees

POSTED: 4:24 pm EDT September 5, 2005

WASHINGTON -- They escaped Hurricane Katrina with nothing more than the clothes on their back. And now, they'll be wearing clothing with labels like Tommy Hilfiger and Yves St. Laurent.

They might not even mind that the labels are phony.

Hurricane survivors in the Houston Astrodome will be able to choose from counterfeit and abandoned clothing, as well as toys, dog food, and sheets and blankets.

They're among the items seized by federal customs officials. And now, they're being pulled from the warehouses and made available to hurricane survivors.

The agency has about a million items in storage. Customs officials are going through the inventory to see what might be useful to hurricane survivors.

http://www.wral.com/money/4937407/detail.html

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press.

Wow . . . that's an ingenious use for all the things they take away at the borders, better than throwing all of it away.

Good idea. Saves cost of storing the seized goods, saves them from going into landfills, etc. and should be useful to evacuees...

It's ABOUT TIME some agencies pull their heads out and put this stuff to GOOD USE, only wish MORE depts. would do this........CONGRATS and "Atta BOY!" to the ones responsible!

Dennis

A couple of years ago, the Feds and State authorities raided the "bargain barns" in our area and came away with a huge quantity of unlicensed (but marked as such) MLB and NFL clothing..caps, shirts, bags, etc. Theer were numerous arrests, and some of these businesses were closed down.

I DO hope that the seized items have been stored, and are on their way to people who so desperately need them.