Operation Gung Ho
The Government Supply Chain Investigations Unit (GSCIU) of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center spearheads Operation Gung Ho (OGH), a multi-agency government initiative to prevent counterfeit and non-compliant weapons systems, guns, body armor, and ammunition into the government supply chain. The GSCIU, through Operation Gung Ho, brings manufacturers, vendors and all levels of law enforcement to the same table to identify and respond to supply chain vulnerabilities.
Operation Gung Ho was established to protect vital sectors that work together to play critical roles in the security of the United States, including manufacturers, vendors, U.S. law enforcement and the U.S. military. The operation stands as a testament to the proactive and collaborative approach in securing the government supply chain to protect the war fighter and law enforcement officer by having effective and reliable equipment.
Operation Objectives
Prevent counterfeit and noncompliant weapons systems, ammunition and ballistic personal protective equipment from entering the government supply chain
Identify and investigate government supply chain vulnerabilities involving body armor, guns and their components
Operation Capabilities
Leveraging a whole-of-government approach, effectively utilizing the extensive expertise of partner agencies
Utilizing advanced techniques for ingesting and analyzing interagency data sources
Implementing an integrated response framework to swiftly address counterfeiting incidents by leveraging the capabilities of all pertinent agencies
Case Study - Counterfeits in the Supply Chain
System Impacted
Ballistic personal protective equipment (BPPE)
Event
Over several years, noncompliant BPPE was sold to dozens of federal, local and state law enforcement agencies, placing thousands of dangerous, low-quality equipment in the hands of our officers.
Investigative Details
HSI seized eight shipments inbound from China containing BPPE. When tested, the equipment failed to meet compliant protection levels. Following the execution of a search warrant, over 1,000 Chinese-manufactured BPPE have been removed from service.
Ongoing Partnerships
- AFOSI
- DCIS
- GSA-OIG
- CGIS
- Army CID
- NCIS
- CBP