But, Chow said, if consumers were to check the serial numbers on the holograms, they will find that the number is the same on different articles. On official articles, every number is unique to the item to which it is affixed. The counterfeiters may also make spelling mistakes. On one alleged Steelers throw-back jersey, the counterfeiters spelled Pittsburgh as two words — “Pitts Burgh.” That, Chow said, would be an easy giveaway. Another tag misspelled “football.” But the spelling mistakes are in the fine print that customers normally don’t even look at and go unnoticed, he added.

Official league articles can be pricey. Throwback jerseys go for $350, and a retailer can make good money by selling fakes for less than $100. But there’s more wrong with the garments than just the spelling on the tags and the serial numbers, agents say.

The finish can be inferior. The garments can fall apart or fade after washing. The colors are also frequently off. The fabric is frequently of lighter weight, the stitching hastily done and the quality shoddy at best.

On a Reggie White throwback jersey seized Wednesday, the player’s name as sewn on the jersey upside down.

“These people aren’t graphic artists, they’re con artists,” the NFL spokesman said.

Special feature Super Bowl matchups Compare the starting lineups of the Cardinals and Steelers, then vote on which team will win. NBCSports.com

“This is the annual struggle that we face,” he said. “The Super Bowl is a popular event for fans. It’s also a popular event for counterfeiters. It is truly an ongoing struggle. These counterfeiters go from major event to major event. This merchandise is anything but a bargain.”

In Wednesday’s raid, agents had expected to simply seize the counterfeits in a civil action and not charge the shop owner. But when they discovered just how many fakes he had, they arrested Junior Raphael Prentice, 38, of Tampa, and charged him with dealing in counterfeit items. Authorities said they intended to return with a warrant to search another kiosk run by Prentice that sells trendy, designer women’s wear.

Last year, an I.C.E. spokesperson said, the biggest single haul of Super Bowl-related merchandise in Arizona was worth $100,000. They exceeded that by a factor of five Wednesday — and the week for the enforcement teams is just beginning.

Also on NBCSports.com NHL: Devils outs Rangers, reach Stanley Cup finals  |  Highlights NBA: Why the Celtics will beat the 76ers in Game 7   PFT Live: Will Teblow push Sanchez, or take the QB's job?   French Open: Isner is the dark horse in Paris   Indy 500: Will Franchitti break tradition if he wins third title? Follow us on Twitter: @NBCSports  |  And Facebook