U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Rochester port of entry have seized shipments containing counterfeit designer goods, including watches, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. The items were found to bear fake trademarks and would have had a combined Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $425,125 if they were genuine.
Rochester Acting Port Director Philip Young commented on the situation: “During the holiday season, we often see an increase in counterfeit goods entering the country, as criminals attempt to exploit the high demand for popular brands. Our officers identify and intercept these items to protect American consumers and businesses. This seizure demonstrates the critical role CBP plays in safeguarding the economy and ensuring shoppers receive authentic, high-quality products.”
CBP has legal authority to detain or seize imported merchandise that infringes on registered trademarks or copyrights. These rights must be recorded with CBP through its e-Recordation program (https://iprr.cbp.gov/s/). Other violations can include misclassification of goods, false labeling of origin, health and safety risks, or incorrect valuation.
As shopping increases during the holidays, CBP advises consumers to buy from trusted retailers and be wary of offers that appear unusually low-priced. Counterfeit products can negatively impact both economic interests and consumer safety.
The agency continues its efforts through an Intellectual Property Rights enforcement program aimed at protecting U.S. businesses from unfair competition and misuse of intellectual property. Suspected trade law violations can be reported anonymously via CBP’s E-Allegation system or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT. Reports regarding intellectual property rights violations may also be submitted to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center at https://www.iprcenter.gov/referral/ or by phone at 1-866-IPR-2060.
For more information about how CBP works to stop counterfeit goods from entering the country and details on its Truth Behind Counterfeits campaign, visit https://www.cbp.gov/trade/fakegoodsrealdangers.
CBP describes itself as America’s largest law enforcement organization responsible for unified border management across land, air, and sea domains.
