On January 29, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) in Chicago, Illinois seized counterfeit designer goods purportedly from Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, and more. These items were found in two shipments from Thailand headed to Alabama.The combined shipments represented a value of $686,000, that is, what they would have been worth had they been genuine. Both parcels were inspected due to “x-ray irregularities.”
The first shipment included the following 85 counterfeit items: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, and Rolex Watches; Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Gucci headbands; Chanel, Balenciaga, and Burberry hats; Chanel Jewelry Boxes; and counterfeit Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes Wallets. Had these been real, the value (or MSRP) would have been $313,000. Interestingly, the CBP notes that these items were of poor quality.
The second batch included these counterfeit items: Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Christian Dior, Tory Burch, and Yves Saint Laurent earrings; Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Chanel, Gucci, Tiffany, Cartier, and Prada necklaces; and Louis Vuitton and Chanel hairbands. CBP found 366 items that, if real, would have been value at $374,000. Again, CBP recognized the poor quality of these items.
CBP warns: “Consumers should be aware that if a known high-value brand is being offered for an unusually low price, it could very well be fake. CBP encourages the use of reputable vendors for your valuable purchases,” according to LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director, Field Operations, Chicago Field Office.
CBP also reminds consumers of the risks and dangers of counterfeit goods:
“Intellectual property theft threatens America’s economic vitality and funds criminal activities and organized crime,” said Chicago’s Acting Port Director Ralph Piccirilli. “Our officers are dedicated to protecting private industry and consumers by removing these kinds of shipments from our commerce.”
Image courtesy: cbp.gov
- Maura Carlin posted 1 year ago
