Counterfeit health and beauty products arrests on Long Island

Authorities say they have taken down a major counterfeiting operation in five locations across Nassau County. Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said $2 million worth of fake health and beauty products were seized Thursday. The products are facsimiles of major international brands owned by Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble and Unilever.

Two brothers from Franklin Square and Plainview, Pardeep Malik and Hamant Mullick, are accused of running the sophisticated operation in facilities in Franklin Square, Oceanside, Freeport and a showroom in Valley Stream. Prosecutors say they sold the products to distributors who sold to smaller independent stores. Investigators are running lab tests to ascertain whether any of the counterfeit goods have any health risks. The operation came to light after a fire in April. When fire officials went back to investigate, they discovered the alleged ring. The fake products include Vicks Vaporub, baby oil, Vaseline, Chapstick and inhalers. “These products have been found to turn up in retail locations in New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida,” said Rice.

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