BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MONROE -- Traders World flea market does everything it can to discourage vendors from selling bogus merchandise -- and permanently kicks out those who do, says Jay Frick, the flea market's manager.
"We try very hard to keep it clean here," Mr. Frick said Tuesday, following reports that Monroe police and a private loss-prevention expert seized 1,900 suspected fake items from the flea market last weekend.
Most were alleged counterfeits of Tommy Hilfiger or FUBU (For U, By U) trademarks, police said.
Billed as "the largest weekly market in the Midwest," according to Mr. Frick, Traders World features about 600 vendors in 1,200 booths. The market is off Interstate 75 south of Middletown.
Each year, Traders World kicks out "a small percentage" of vendors whose practices are deemed intolerable, including suspected counterfeiting, Mr. Frick said. He estimated about 10 vendors a year are ejected.
Police said prosecutors were expected to decide this week whether anyone will be charged as a result of Saturday's sweep, which also netted about $1,500 cash.
