DALLAS, Dec 16, 2005/ FW/ --- Counterfeiters beware! 27 suspected traffickers of counterfeit Lacoste merchandise had been caught and charged in Puerto Rico after a police raid in the territory wherein more than $1 million worth of fake Lacoste merchandise was seized.

According to a statement from Lacoste, the raids were conducted this week in 19 locations in Carolina, Ponce, Bayamon and other cities with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service in Puerto.

The surprise raids netted counterfeit dress shirts, knit polo shirts, sweatsuits, hats and jeans, as well as other counterfeit Lacoste merchandise. Lacoste was granted a restraining order and injunction from the U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico, authorizing the company to seize the counterfeit fashion items.

A hearing before the court held yesterday granted Lacoste preliminary injunction against the defendants.

"We intend to aggressively police our brand and protect it from the work of counterfeiters who harm both the legitimate merchant and the consumer. We will work with the authorities to seek out and prosecute trademark violators wherever they operate, said Robert Siegel, Chairman & CEO of Lacoste in the US in a statement.

The company, which was founded in 1933 by French tennis champion Rene Lacoste is enjoying a revival and surge in its popularity since French designer Christophe Lemaire took the creative helm of the brand in May 2000.

Lacoste had been previewing it latest collections in New York for the past several seasons. It has already announced that on Feb 4, 2006, during Olympus Fashion Week, it will hold its highly anticipated catwalk show under the tents at Bryant Park.

For more information about Lacoste, please log on: www.lacoste.com