Yesterday, at around 12:30 p.m., police raided unlicensed vendors outside 291 Broadway. At that time, during lunch hour, many customers were buying illegal goods. The unlicensed vendors were busy and didn’t notice the police arrival—until they were caught. On the opposite side of the street, another group of police arrested more unlicensed vendors trying to escape. Three unlicensed vendors were handcuffed and immediately seven to eight Chinese women arrived begging police to release the men. The vendors worried about their money and immediately handed it to the women. The action was skilled. The police confiscated 500 CDs and video tapes.

This paper has reported that copies of CDs and video tapes are so popular in Chinatown that The Matrix Reloaded was available on the street after being in theatres only one day. The severity of the police reaction may be related to complaints from movie producers, or because of high activity of the vendors.

Currently, there are no illegal vendors around Canal Street and some stores were also ordered to close. The street is suddenly deserted. The relationship between police and illegal vendors is like a never-ending game of cat and mouse.

Based on what I saw in the evening, vendors and many stores were closed on Canal Street. But behind the scenes, there’s another story. When tourists say that they want to buy fake handbags, they are directed to a hidden section of the stores, past a hidden door to a warehouse. The warehouse is less than 50 feet from the store. Inside there are more than 10 tourists picking new models of handbags. Near the door, several strong men keep watch.

The cat and mouse game may be an old story, but to find the mouse’s hiding place and kill it, is not easy.