In Buffalo, NY over the month of November 2023 U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Buffalo Port of Entry Peace Bridge warehouse seized multiple designer items for bearing counterfeit trademarks.
Over the past few weeks, customs officers inspected a package listed as ‘gift items’ that contained multiple designer handbags and a pair of sneakers.
After a thorough examination of the merchandise, the handbags and sneakers were determined to be inauthentic and were seized for bearing counterfeit trademarks.
Had the items been authentic, the total manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) value would be approximately $18,800 dollars.
Counterfeit products are low quality and potentially dangerous. They are dangerous because they may be made with hazardous materials, and breathing in the contaminants can cause sickness or death.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has the authority to detain, seize, forfeit, and ultimately destroy imported counterfeit merchandise.
Counterfeit and pirated goods threatens America’s innovation economy, the competitiveness of businesses, the livelihoods of U.S. workers, and in some cases, national security and the health and safety of consumers.
It is also against the law to import counterfeit or pirated merchandise and individual consumers may be liable for a fine even if they did not intend to import counterfeit and pirated merchandise.
