Feds link Mexican drug cartels to fake NFL shirts

US investigators have linked Mexican drug cartels to the sale of counterfeit sports shirts in New Mexico.

The sale of fake NFL (National Football League) merchandise has become a big business as counterfeiters undercut the expensive genuine jerseys. Homeland Security officials now have evidence the promise of fast money has attracted Mexican drug cartels.

Investigator Kevin Abar told the Associated Press the homeland security trade enforcement unit had seized dozens of fake San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins jerseys. The products were linked to cartels operating in northern Mexico.

Attention is now turning to New Orleans ahead of the Superbowl on Sunday. A spike in sales of counterfeit NFL jerseys is expected to add to the $13.6m-worth of merchandise seized over the past five months.

Abar said the cartels are selling shirts at flea markets and in parking lots, but a lot of counterfeits are traded online. Authorities have shut down 300 websites for allegedly selling fake NFL jerseys, but an online search shows lots of retailers are still offering shirts at massive reductions.