On June, 12, U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Louisville intercepted a shipment of earrings that were identified as counterfeit by the agency’s trade experts at the Centers of Excellence and Expertise.
Image courtesy CPB
The shipment contained a total of 1,421 pairs of earrings, adorned with logos from luxury brands such as Chanel, Van Cleef and Arpels, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, and Versace. The merchandise had originally arrived in Louisville from Thailand and was heading to a private residence in Fullerton, California. CBP quickly intercepted and seized the goods for infringing on the protected trademarks of these designers. If genuine, the earrings would have had a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of approximately $899,500.
LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director of Field Operations at the Chicago Field Office commented on the latest shipment of counterfeit goods:
“Our officers and import specialists have done an excellent job targeting shipments and identifying counterfeit items. CBP protects businesses and consumers every day with an aggressive intellectual property rights enforcement program.”
CBP’s mission to protect U.S. businesses and consumers involves the seizure of millions of counterfeit goods annually from various countries worldwide. These goods encompass a wide range of products, including counterfeit versions of popular items like smartphones, electronics, apparel, shoes, cosmetics, and of course, high-end luxury goods. The sale of counterfeit goods online and in stores not only harms the U.S. economy but also funds criminal activities.
Thomas Mahn, the Port Director in Louisville, reiterates the importance of intercepting counterfeit goods before they reach the retail market:
“Intellectual property theft threatens America’s economic vitality and funds criminal activities and organized crime. Our officers are dedicated to protecting private industry and consumers by removing these kinds of shipments from our commerce.”
In the fiscal year 2022, CBP seized over 24.5 million counterfeit items nationwide, valued at nearly $3 billion if they had been genuine. To raise awareness among consumers about the risks and consequences associated with counterfeit goods. CBP has initiated an educational campaign called the ‘Truth Behind Counterfeits’ (More information can be found here: The Truth Behind Counterfeits).
CBP encourages individuals with information regarding illegally imported counterfeit merchandise to submit an e-Allegation. This system allows the public to report suspected violations of trade laws or regulations related to the importation of goods into the United States anonymously.
- Anna McWhirter posted 10 months ago
- last edited 10 months ago
