DORAVILLE, Ga. -- Doraville police busted what investigators called an international counterfeit merchandise ring Friday.

Only CBS Atlanta crews were there when police raided four businesses along the Buford Highway corridor at the same time.

At a store called Abel Trading, police handcuffed the workers and a delivery worker who had just shown up with a dozen boxes.

Police said most of what's sold at the store is perfectly legal costume jewelry.

But officers and trademark investigators immediately spotted what they said was some illegal knock-off merchandise.

At other locations, police made similar finds, including handbags, scarves, sunglasses and clothes made mostly in China and Korea.

"They're shipped here. They make it through customs because they're not actually counterfeit when they make it through customs,” said Doraville Police Capt. Josh Sellers.

Sellers said counterfeiters in the U.S. make the items look just like the real thing.

"Tags, labels, nameplates, stickers, things like that,” Sellers said.

Investigators said counterfeiting is a growing trend, especially in this economy, when everyone's looking for a bargain.

That's why, police said, trademark inspectors who work for the real manufacturers go undercover.

"That's why they go out, and they're vigilant about catching these folks that are doing exactly what these people are doing,” Sellers said.

Police officers detained 20 people, but they let some go a few minutes later because they were just customers or innocent bystanders.

Those who were charged with counterfeiting and trademark infringement could be looking at up to five years in prison.