Who knew the cleaning supplies game could be such a dirty business?

Customs officials in Seattle have launched an investigation related to the purported importation of thousands of boxes of counterfeit laundry detergent, according to filings made to the U.S. District Court by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

Applying for a search warrant for a SeaTac residence, the agent asserted several Seattle-area men have been importing Chinese-made laundry detergent by the cargo container.

One container seized earlier this year in Seattle was found to contain 52,080 bags of laundry detergent marked as though they were Tide or Ariel-brand products, the agent noted.

The move followed raids late last year in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the agent continued.

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