U.S. Customs officers have seized over $30 million worth of fake designer products: bags and clothing at a Los Angeles port ahead of the holiday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement.
The container of 13,586 items had been shipped from China.
CBP officers discovered fake handbags, tote bags, shoulder bags, crossbody bags, backpacks, shirts, and pants bearing numerous registered and recorded trademarks, such as Gucci, Chanel, Fendi, YSL, and Louis Vuitton.
CBP officers, in cooperation with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents seized the shipment on November 9, 2021.
The CBP said, If genuine, the seized merchandise would have a combined estimated Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $30,437,775.
“CBP commits substantial law enforcement resources to keep counterfeit and pirated goods out of U.S. supply chains, markets, and streets,” Carlos C. Martel, Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles said in the statement. “Now more than ever, CBP officers remain vigilant, committed, and focused on disrupting these smuggling operations,” he added.
The CBP said that counterfeit products have been sold on illegitimate websites and in underground outlets.
pants bearing numerous registered trademarks. Photo: CBP
“The rise of e-commerce offers a haven for criminals who are now able to hide behind seemingly legitimate listings on well-known websites. The sale of counterfeit commodities multiplies the illegal profits of smugglers and traffickers who reinvest the proceeds from such sales into further criminal enterprises,” the CBP said in a statement.
“Bad actors exploit e-commerce operations by selling counterfeit and unsafe goods through online platforms, particularly during the holiday season when shoppers are looking for deals,” Donald R. Kusser, Port Director of the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport said in the statement.
“If the price of the product seems too good to be true, it probably is. Counterfeit goods are often of poor quality and can even be unsafe for you and your family,” Kusser added.
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