The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced yet another massive bust of illegal counterfeit goods at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport.
Earlier this year, CBP officials seized three containerized cargo shipments from China filled with counterfeit goods, including more than one million erectile dysfunction pills, sneakers, belts, purses, and headphones in violation of trademark registrations and records. Two of this year’s most coveted limited edition sneakers were among the replica sneakers, Dior x Air Jordan 1s and Ben & Jerry’s “Chunky Dunky” Nike SB Dunks. According to officials, the goods would have cost $32,161,194.00 if they were genuine.
“Criminals are taking advantage of e-commerce platforms to sell counterfeit and dangerous goods to unwitting holiday shoppers,” said Carlos C. Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles.
CBP image of counterfeit Yeezys and Nikes
Consumer health and safety are at risk, and counterfeit goods fund criminal activity, according to authorities.
David A. Prince, a special agent for Homeland Security Investigations in Los Angeles, said that commercial piracy and product counterfeiting undermine the U.S. economy, rob Americans of jobs, and promote other kinds of crimes. It is economic sabotage to steal intellectual property.
A staggering 26,503 shipments have been seized by CBP this year for violating intellectual property rights. Those goods would have been worth nearly $1.3 billion if they had been genuine.
In August, CBP seized more than $4.3 million worth of fake sneakers, including Dior x Air Jordan 1s. In April, we first noticed counterfeit Dior Jordans on the market. The shoes retailed for $2,200 and $2,000, respectively, with genuine pairs fetching $7,000 to $8,000 on the resale market now.
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