U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Philadelphia have intercepted a shipment containing 22,000 counterfeit Pennsylvania vehicle inspection stickers. The fake decals, originating from Israel and intended for an address in Philadelphia, were valued at $1,404,700 if they had been genuine.
The discovery was made in two separate shipments: one with 10,000 stickers arrived on November 26, and another with 12,000 stickers on December 9. Both shipments were detained by CBP officers who suspected the authenticity of the inspection stickers. Confirmation from Pennsylvania authorities led to the seizure of these counterfeit items on December 16.
In Pennsylvania, vehicles must undergo annual inspections to meet safety and emissions standards. Vehicle owners may be tempted to buy counterfeit stickers to avoid costly repairs required for passing inspections. However, using fake inspection stickers can result in penalties up to $500 and possible jail time.
Cleatus P. Hunt Jr., CBP’s Area Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia, emphasized the public safety risks posed by such fraudulent activities: “Unscrupulous actors peddling fraudulent vehicle inspection stickers create a very serious public safety concern. Fake inspection stickers mask unsafe motor vehicles that place all motorists on our roadways in harm.”
CBP's mission at Ports of Entry includes screening international travelers and cargo for illicit items such as narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit goods, prohibited agriculture products, invasive species, and other potentially harmful products.
For more information about CBP's daily operations or updates from the Baltimore Field Office Director on Twitter at @DFOBaltimore or Instagram at @cbpfieldops.
CBP is recognized as America's frontline border management agency with over 65,000 personnel dedicated to protecting U.S. borders across land, air, and sea while facilitating lawful travel and trade.
