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Nine arrested after ICE raids counterfeit vendors
After a major show of force on the corridors of the neighborhood with regular counterfeit operations, ICE officers — as many as 70, fully armed in fatigues and accompanied by Humvees, with support from several other federal agencies — arrested nine illegal immigrants, the Department of Homeland Security said.
“Some of their rap sheets included robbery, burglary, domestic violence, assaulting law enforcement, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, drug possession, and forgery,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in an email. “Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S.”
The ICE agents originally detained 13 people — including four protestors — but after intervention from US Representative Dan Goldman, those four, all US citizens, were released. The nine were brought to 26 Federal Plaza and remain in custody.
“Yesterday’s military-style raid on Canal Street was an outrageous and unnecessary abuse of power,” Goldman said. “Dozens of masked federal agents stormed Lower Manhattan, roughing up protestors and indiscriminately arresting people — including four U.S. citizens. After my office intervened, all four were released without charges, but their freedom should never have depended on congressional action.”
The Department of Homeland Security called the raids a “targeted, intelligence-driven enforcement operation … focused on criminal activity relating to selling counterfeit goods.”
The following men were arrested, with these descriptions from DHS:
Mamadou Ndoye, a criminal illegal alien from Mali, issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge in 2008 and was previously arrested for crimes including assault, recklessly endangering, counterfeiting third degree, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, criminal sale of narcotics, possessing a controlled substance, possession of marijuana for sale, making false reports to law enforcement and resisting arrest.
Muhammad Ndiaye, a criminal illegal alien from Senegal, with previous arrests for domestic violence, robbery, receiving stolen property, burglary, fraudulent accosting. forgery, counterfeiting, sale of a controlled substance, obstruction, and disorderly conduct. He entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa that required him to depart in 1995.
Aboubakar Diakite, a criminal illegal alien, with previous arrests for counterfeiting.
Idy Sarr, a criminal illegal alien from Senegal, issued a final order of removal by a immigration judge in 2010 and previously arrested for obstruction, possession of forged instrument, counterfeiting, failure to disclose origin of recording, drug possession and criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.
Sergigne Diop, a criminal illegal alien from Senegal who entered the U.S. in April 2024 at the southwest border, was previously released into the U.S. by the Biden administration.
Modou Mboup, a criminal illegal alien from Senegal, previously assaulted Mexican law enforcement, and he entered the U.S. in September 2023 in a caravan of 140 people at the southwest border and was released by the Biden administration into the country.
Alioune Sy, an illegal alien from Senegal entered the U.S. in May 2023 and failed to depart after his tourist visa expired.
Bokar Soko, a criminal illegal alien from Mauritania, previously arrested for counterfeiting second degree three times. He entered the U.S. illegally on May 24, 2023, in a caravan of 26 people was released by the Biden administration into the interior of the country.
Amadou Diallo, a criminal illegal alien from Guinea who entered the U.S. November 2021 at the southwest border and was released by the Biden Administration into the interior of the country.
Earlier this month, the crowds on Broadway and Canal had only gotten worse. “I physically was unable to walk from our apartment on Franklin to Canal Street to get the the subway because the sidewalk was packed to the gills with vendors,” P. wrote. “The available walking space was reduced to a single-file lane that was filled with shoppers heading both north and south. Honestly, the last month has been the worst I have seen. I never see any police – not one.”
Today, the sidewalks were quiet.
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I’m disappointed by this post. Why are you regurgitating propaganda?
Praising the regime for illegally clearing the sidewalks and contravening our rights in the process is disturbing behavior from a favorite local blog.
Just playing up to the constituency I presume.
Strongly agree with Peter…and from a journalist who is witnessing the winnowing away of rights in their own profession.
Thank you. Also incredibly disappointed by this.
Even the NY Times reported facts showing the action was not a random raid:
“Dozens of officers milled on the roadway, partially obstructing traffic and keeping news photographers at bay, as others checked the identities of the men they had detained, comparing them against headshots carried by the agents on a piece of paper. Some of the men were released shortly after.”
The NY Times also supplemented its reporting with information from D.H.S.:
” […] On Wednesday, a day after the raid, D.H.S. released mug shots of the nine men arrested, who hailed from Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal. Many entered the country during the Biden administration, the agency said, while others overstayed their visas or had been ordered deported by a judge years ago.
“Five of them had previously been arrested in the United States, the agency said, for charges that included counterfeiting, drug possession, robbery, assault and domestic violence. […]
“Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, defended the raid as ‘intelligence driven,’ adding that ‘It’s not random, we’re just not pulling people off the street.’ […]”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/nyregion/nyc-raid-canal-st-agents-ice.html
Of course it wasnt random.
They targeted 9 known criminals. If was random, why only arrest 9 when the streets are filled w illegal vendors.
Arresting criminals is “propaganda”? I’m glad weak people no longer have sway over law enforcement (at least for the moment)
I agree with you, Peter.
Bravo! Thank you POTUS for bringing some much needed law and order to this city. Our local government is too busy with making false promises and spending money it does not have.
And thank you Tribeca Citizen for publishing the background on these folks who were arrested. They are clearly not contributing positively to our society.
The absurd part of this is that it takes ICE to address the situation of counterfeit goods being sold on virtually every street off of Canal. Where is the NYPD and our local politicians to deal with that? Nowhere, until ICE shows up, and then they complain about ICE, not the illegal activity. I don’t support the tactics of ICE, but let’s be real, people. You are kind of missing the forest for the trees here…
I agree with your sentiments completely. How long were we going to wait for the New York Police to do nothing at all about it? I would suggest that Representative Goldman read the Tribeca Citizen to understand how frustrated the community is regarding this issue. This may be the first (and only) time I agree with the Trump Administration.
I agree ICE was not the best agency to go in there. It should have been dealt with NYPD, with Fed help (since counterfeiting is a Federal/international crime) long long time ago. I have to admit, though, it will be nice to be able to walk through there without the pushing and shoving.
As we have learned, it is very difficult for the NYPD to make arrests without proof that the goods are counterfeit. ICE could detain them because they are not documented.
Even beyond the counterfeiting question, which as you say requires proof, the police should be able to clear the sellers out permanently from unauthorized areas, of if they lack vending permits, or are otherwise violating vending (or other) laws.
Exactly. NY Police do nothing. They say they have no power. They say there is no point in citing them, as the sellers won’t show up for a hearing, and won’t pay the fines. They say there is no point in arresting them, as nothing will come of it, and the sellers will be right back out on the street.
What kind of city is this where the police have no power to enforce the law? Where the mayor and other politicians feel no responsibility to uphold law and order?
If the city lacks the will to uphold the law (even its own laws!), then seems not only fair, but necessary, for federal enforcement to step in. (The methods of enforcement are another matter, but enforcement is justified).
Let me understand some of the comments here, A group of criminals who entered the country illegally (without process) committed crimes openly daily, city Council laws forced NYPD to look away creating an open air counterfeiting drug dealing market that metastasized way past Canal Street was finally cleaned up by federal forces (good and Thank you!) and there are complaints about hurting the sensitivities of the arrested criminals? Who you should be complaining about are the local politicians who have passed laws to allow this cesspool to exist.
“city Council laws forced NYPD to look away” because The City Council did not want the illegal alien vendors to get charged criminally and then be flagged and deported as a result.
From the City Council’s own website:
“There are severe collateral consequences of a criminal record on people’s […] immigration status. […]
” ‘Today was a decisive victory for immigrants in NYC,’ said Council Member Shekar Krishnan. ‘As a Council, we voted to override the Mayor’s veto of my bill, Intro 47-B, which protects vendors from jail time and possible immigration consequences. The City Council will protect immigrants from intimidation and fear, from the horrifying conditions of 26 Federal Plaza, and from Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda. As Trump beefs up ICE and deploys the National Guard to our cities, we will stand up for our communities. We will ensure that safeguards are in place so that even if this Mayor, who is beholden to the President, tries to undo them, we stand strong. I’m thankful for Speaker Adams’ leadership and to the City Council for proving to New Yorkers that we are the leaders they deserve at this moment.’ ”
No truer words were spoken. That is who your City Council represents.
Source: https://council.nyc.gov/press/2025/09/10/2973/
I walked down Broadway and Canal last night, the criminal bazaar was gone, so refreshing!!!
Political stances aside, yesterday was the first time in months I was able to walk down Canal Street holding hands with my kid, side by side, without having to avoid the bag sellers that made me feel like I was trespassing on their private property.
As a note; the ladies with the laminated sheets showing purses were still out there yesterday.
I bet within the a week it’s back to normal on Canal Street.
Exactly. A one-time raid has no lasting effect. There has to be repeated, regular, consistent enforcement, not just on Canal Street, but citywide.
The problem begins at the top. See the statements from our officials. None of them even acknowledged that the organized crime counterfeit bazaars are a problem. They only focused on the nature of the arrests.
“This is not immigration enforcement. This is lawless terror designed to incite violence to create a pretext for Donald Trump to send the military into New York City,” Rep. Dan Goldman said Wednesday.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “[President Trump] claims he’s targeting the ‘worst of the worst.’ Today his agents used batons and pepper spray on street vendors and bystanders on Canal Street. You don’t make New York safer by attacking New Yorkers.”
“There is no excuse for sending military-style vehicles and a national law enforcement response for street vendors,” City Comptroller Brad Lander said.
“”New York City does not cooperate with federal law enforcement on civil deportations, in accordance with our local laws…Our administration has been clear that undocumented New Yorkers trying to pursue their American Dreams should not be the target of law enforcement.” – Mayor Adams
(https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/canal-street-ice-raid-lower-manhattan-nyc-dhs/)
New York Attorney General Letitia James: “Every New Yorker has the right to live without fear or intimidation”. Even criminals?
That sounds like an open invitation: If you enter the USA illegally, just come to NYC, and you can be above the law forever. You can pursue the American Dream by being part of an international organized crime operation.
None of these politicians even bother to propose a better solution to the problem. You can disagree with the methods, but at least acknowledge the problem, and come up with a real solution.
Arrest the tourists who buy these counterfeits. Have them spend a night in The Tombs and then send them on their way. Word will spread and there goes the market for these goods.
The show of force the other day will likely discourage some potential customers, for now.
Unfortunately, it seems that (unlike in Europe) it is not illegal to buy counterfeit goods. It makes no sense.
See: https://alpvision.com/consumers-penalty-for-buying-counterfeit-goods/
Also of course the buyers could claim they didn’t know it was counterfeit. Sure, Rolex and Apple always sell their products through random street sellers who run and hide whenever police are nearby.
As a 15+ year resident on Broadway and Franklin who rides the Q or 6 regularly I have nothing nice to say about the sidewalk counterfeit operations. I would like nothing more than to walk easily down Broadway but not via this aggressive and vulgar display of ICE militarism. Arresting 9 men, most of whom per the DHS bios (thanks Pam for sharing) were not violent offenders or drug dealers but sellers of counterfeit goods, via a military-style operation is a complete waste of taxpayer money. The entire laminated card business is a complex business web that needs to be stopped at its source – removing 9 independent sellers does nothing to halt the larger counterfeit operation. Just spend a few minutes walking up Corltandt Alley on a weekend day and you will see “runners” shuttling back and forth from Vans parked on the sidewalk full or merchandise delivering goods to women clutching their laminated menus and negotiating prices with soon-to-be buyers.
Yes, it’s calm now – and some might shy away for a few days, maybe even a few weeks. DHS wanted to show force in NYC and this was the invented rationale for their masked-faced bullying. If the Federal government really wanted to solve the problem they would work at dismantling the deeper network of operatives that have kept the machine alive on Canal street since I was a young boy. What is DHS going to do next, arrest the Elmos posing for photos in Times Square? Truth is tourists love buying this junk – it is as much of a destination as Century 21 used to be. As a result, I don’t think the city wants to do much about it – it draws tourists and their money to the city. That said – there must be a way to just keep moving folks off of the sidewalks – its impossible to walk down the street some days.
For those of you who criticized the writing/publishing of this article, I have read it through multiple times and do not see anything that resembles “praising.” Quoting DHS’s propaganda is an important element of reporting on these activities. There is no opinion offered in support of DHS’s statements – if anything the lede contrasts 70 armed military against the arrest of 9. Not great results – certainly not praise. This is an important issue to the neighborhood and this was a profound intrusion of federal agents. The reporting was straight-forward and contained valuable information. Make of it what you want (as I did).
The Government finally broke the mafia by aggressively arresting the low level members and getting them to turn on the people above them. Arresting these people is a necessary first step in taking apart these international crime syndicates. And I don’t feel the least bit sorry for these people who came into the country illegally and immediately and brazenly commit crime on our streets (and they were probably trafficked here for exactly this purpose). They are getting exactly what they deserve.
Maybe not the best day to bring up breaking up the mafia since four families are implicated in the gambling bust that was announced this morning.
It’s why you need to remain vigilant. And they busted NBA dupes who are no different than the counterfeit venders on our streets to go up the chain.
Thank you Black Squirrel for an informed and balanced chronicling of the situation.
I hate the mess on Canal and environs. I hate that mornings Church near the P.O. and Hotel smells like a urinal. I hate that I have to veer out onto the street because the intersections are so full.
However, Gestapo tactics are overkill. People committing civil offenses can be arrested without chaos and harm to innocent bystanders. City Council is the right place to voice our grievances. Once you let the Feds in, given the authoritarian drive and racism of the current administration, that will spread to other people and places: students, journalists, anyone who doesn’t fall in line. This is happening.
“Cleansing” is right out of the authoritarian playbook.
Tribeca, wishing to be Manhattan’s first gated community.
Many of these people overstayed visas. Not a crime, a civil offense. The rest have pending asylum applications, Therefore documented and legal. And luckily, most are represented by counsel, who they actually PAY with their meager wages. Most are religious refugees from Africa, subject to horrible discrimination and violence back home. Trying to get money to bring family over.
Chinatown, including Canal Street has been a market for “counterfeit goods” since before most of you were born.
Why is the State enforcing trademarks for private corporations using our tax dollars? Sale of fake goods, the above listed “counterfeiting” should be a civil offense,, where the trademark holders sues the encroaching merchant. Or, maybe go after the wholesalers, not the poor immigrant sellers, who are serving a well-known market.
Hallelujah, clarity without discrimination
Beautifully said and perfectly captured. I completely agree and my comment below shares a very similar sentiment. It’s refreshing to see that people with genuine compassion and perspective still exist.
Some of these other comments saying things like “we voted for this” or “glad justice is being served” sound so out of touch. It’s the kind of mindset that comes from never having faced real struggle. I would love for some of these people to spend just two weeks in Africa or any developing country with limited resources and no head start in life.
Americans can be so unaware of what is really happening beyond our borders. There is a selfishness and lack of empathy that is hard to ignore. And I say that as an American who has actually traveled and seen reality, not just the propaganda shown on TV. When you witness how people live and survive day to day, it changes you. It makes you want to help others regardless of their paperwork or status in a land that was never truly ours to begin with. God gave this world to be shared, not to be divided.
If the illegal activities start up again on Canal Street, ICE, DHS, HSI and FBI will be back to enforce our federal laws. At the SoHo Broadway Initiative Roundtable discussion today, the NYPD representative noted (without any sense of irony) how quiet Canal Street is now after the events of Tuesday.
For those who attended the roundtable today about the vendors, please share what happened there, if you have time.
I will! This afternoon.
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/10/24/opinion-canal-street-not-the-vendors-is-the-problem?ref=hellgatenyc.com
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said on Fox News said Wednesday that New York City residents should expect more crackdowns going forward.
“You will see an increase in ICE arrests because there are so many criminal illegal aliens that have been released in New York, specifically,” Lyons said. “And especially that are being harbored there in New York, for the lack of cooperation there in New York City.”
reported by CBS News By Jeff Capellini, Adi Guajardo, Tim McNicholas
I don’t like that ICE is the organization doing this, but how many decades of flagrant criminality are going to be tolerated before something finally has to be done? I have never seen anyone make a cogent argument for how the illegal vendor markets add anything positive to the city. It does nothing but destroy the quality of life for the neighborhood, harm small businesses, and act as a portal for more serious crimes like drug smuggling and human trafficking.
David Frum had a great quote in 2019 on a similar issue: “If liberal won’t enforce borders, Americans will elect fascists who will.” At some point, the rhetoric defending this nonsense becomes so tiresome that a para-military organization ordered by Trump is preferable over the ineffectual Democrats who do nothing.
The question that I sent to the Soho Broadway Inititiative prior to the ICE intervention on Canal Street: Are we okay with Illicit trade that can finance terrorism and organised crime and potentially provide an invitation for Federal intervention? The question for the representatives of the NYPD, Why are you standing by when there is openly criminal activity that can fund terrorism and organised crime? As an example, some of the funds for the Charlie Hebdo attack where terrorists murdered 12 individuals was provided by selling counterfeit Nike sneakers on the streets of Paris.
Are you willing to wait until after there is another terrorist attack or will you come to your senses and protect New Yorkers from individuals openly funding criminal activity and possibly terrorism.
The other more pressing fear that I have is if you are openly allowing criminal activity on a major street in NYC, are you encouraging the federal government to intervene. President Trump has proclaimed that the crackdown on crime has become a “passion for him.” and that “We’re going to save all of our cities and we’re going to make them essentially crime-free,”
No need for masks and a full scale military attack – these are humans who are trying to make a living – yes some might be illegal and have a crime sheet but most of the others seem the only crime is they are illegal.
Don’t worry folks, Mamdani will clean it up!
Yes, with prostitutes.
Thank you, Peter, and all our neighbors who believe in a free press. This is reposted ICE propaganda.
“Many of these people overstayed visas. Not a crime, a civil offense. ” LOL what a joke…people are actually defending these criminals remaining on our streets but vilifying the men and women of Federal Law enforcement who put their lives at risk every day to help save us from this onslaught. “Some of their rap sheets included robbery, burglary, domestic violence, assaulting law enforcement, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, drug possession, and forgery,” many under final order of removal.
Finally some order and justice….this is what I, and many others, voted for.
Let’s see what all you apologists get when you vote for Mamdani.
i voted for this. more please.
With the exception of three of the men, their only crime seems to be being here illegally. Risking their lives running from third world countries to ours for a better life. Who knows? Maybe they’ll be happy to leave this country that is quickly becoming a banana republic.
For about a decade the illegal vendors have made life on Lispenard miserable. They frequently block the sidewalk so we have to walk in the street to get to Broadway. At the end of the day they leave half eaten food containers all over which look disgusting and attract rats. They monopolize the street parking with their supply vans. They use the street as a toilet finding semi-privacy behind a planter or construction site. Every morning our super sweeps up feces and Gatorade bottles full of urine. When I confront them in flagrante they all say, “there’s no other place to go” which is BS.
Residents have made hundreds of 311 calls with no response. We have had petitions and meetings with Chris Marte who acts sympathetic but never did anything. We have had meetings with 1st Precint officers periodically who explained that the mayhem on our block is a positive choice made by our City’s leaders. The cops sometimes confiscate their contraband only to find them back at it the next day. They don’t arrest them because the Mayor, City Council and Alvin Bragg would refuse to prosecute them and instead demand their immediate release.
Our elected leaders want the illegal vendors there. They have chosen chaos in order to promote their political agenda of equity and open borders. As much as the locals hate the vendors they continue to support Democratic politicians who tolerate this behavior. I don’t know of a single Trump supporter in our neighborhood although if there is one they would stay incognito to avoid open hostility.
Since the ICE raid everyone on the block is celebrating the new found quiet and cleanliness but I have yet to encounter a single person who gives credit to whom it’s due – Donald J. Trump!
I find this article really disappointing. It’s crazy how right after that viral video where someone was being filmed without their permission, ICE suddenly shows up on Canal Street going after a specific group of people. The timing and focus on one demographic don’t sit right.
The whole piece feels biased. They keep tying it to the Biden administration like immigrants only started coming here recently. People have been coming into this country under every president, even under Trump, but nobody talks about that because there’s too much big money tied to it.
At the end of the day, these folks are just trying to survive. America makes it almost impossible for them to get documents or steady work, and then turns around and criminalizes them for doing what they have to do.
And let’s be real. Everybody acting brand new about the African sellers on Canal Street like this is something new. Asian sellers been out there for decades, they’re the ones who made that whole hustle what it is. Nobody said a word back then because they blended in and got a pass. It’s just wild how quick people are to judge when it’s a different face behind the table.
And I hate how people in the comments are glorifying Donald Trump like he ever cared about people struggling to make ends meet.
sorry while I don’t like innocent people being arrested this situation should have been cleaned up a long time ago. It gets worse by the day. They arrested criminals that had multiple offenses had something really bad happened and the multiple offenses were listed. We’d all be wringing our hands saying how are these people all allowed on the street.
And what I really don’t understand is do people understand what they are supporting when they buy these counterfeit products?
How many people do you think are being trafficked to make and sell this crap. All because You want to look like you have more money than you do.