PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Philadelphia recently seized over 13 boxes that included over 2,000 pieces of counterfeit apparel.  If authentic, the merchandise held a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of nearly $289,130.

Counterfeit Nike sneakersCBP officers initially examined the parcel on June 4.  The parcel, destined to Cincinnati, was manifested as “dress, tennis, shoe” from Hong Kong, China.  Officers discovered that the parcel contained various designer brand sports jerseys, Nike sneakers and designer shoes of poor quality and packaging, and suspected the shipment to be counterfeit.

Officers submitted samples to CBP’s Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Centers for Excellence and Expertise, the agency’s trade experts. CBP’s CEE specialists worked with the trademark holders and determined the apparel to be counterfeit.  Had the apparel been authentic, combined seizures had an assessed MSRP of $289,130

“Consumer safety and trademark protection is one of CBP’s top priorities.  Our officers will continue to work closely with our trade and consumer safety partners to identify and seize counterfeit merchandise,” said Casey Durst, CBP Director of Field Operations in Baltimore. 

CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement program.

On a typical day in 2017, CBP officers seized $3.3 million worth of products with IPR violations. Learn more about what CBP did during "A Typical Day" in 2017.

Mexican national soccer team jerseysIn Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, the number of IPR seizures increased 8 percent to 34,143 from 31,560 in FY 2016.  The total estimated MSRP of the seized goods, had they been genuine, decreased to $1.2 billion from $1.38 billion in FY 2016. Read more 2017 IPR Enforcement Statistics.

As a result of CBP enforcement efforts, ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested 457 individuals, obtained 288 indictments, and received 242 convictions related to intellectual property crimes in 2017.

If you have information concerning counterfeit merchandise illegally imported into the United States, CBP encourages you to submit an anonymous report through e-Allegations Online Trade Violation Reporting System.

CBP’s Office of Field Operations

Almost a million times each day, CBP officers welcome international travelers into the U.S.  In screening both foreign visitors and returning U.S. citizens, CBP uses a variety of techniques to intercept narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture, and other illicit products, and to assure that global tourism remains safe and strong.

CBP's border security mission is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations.  Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders.