More than 140 law enforcement officials cordoned off the Santee Alley shopping area Thursday, seizing more than 50,000 pirated and counterfeit merchandise and arresting 26 people in what officials said was its largest raid ever in the area.

"It sends a strong message going into the holiday shopping season that this kind of activity is not going to be tolerated," LAPD Capt. Jodi Wakefield said in the Los Angeles Times Saturday. "If they are going to be doing it, we are going to be arresting them."

The Los Angeles attorney's office said Friday it believed the profits from counterfeit goods fund street gangs seeking to generate revenue in illegal activities that do not carry the same penalties as drug trafficking.

Business owners and other officials say some area store owners allow illegal vendors to operate at their store fronts in exchange for a fee, while others complain of extortion by street gangs.