Federal authorities say they seized counterfeit N-H-L merchandise worth an estimated $180,000 in the days surrounding the Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup victory.

The operation was handled by the Homeland Security Investigations unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It focused on catching illegal vendors near the Blackhawks' home ice at the United Center. The thousands of seized items include fake jerseys, caps and other memorabilia. 

Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations call it a real crime with real victims, in that criminal groups capitalize on the enthusiasm of fans.