CBP Seizes $2M in Fake Goods Over 10-Week Period In Detroit

Detroit — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport port of entry made 192 seizures of fake merchandise worth more than $2 million during a 78-day period beginning Nov. 1, 2010 and ending Jan. 17.

On Nov. 1, CBP officers working air cargo operations at Detroit Metropolitan Airport seized a shipment of counterfeit sunglasses with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $17,200.

And then they got busy. During the next 77 days they made another 191 seizures of fake or counterfeit merchandise being shipped through the airport with an MSRP of more than $2 million. Included in the goods were counterfeit Coach purses, DVDs, Wii and XBox accessories, cell phones, car parts (including airbags) and counterfeit sports jerseys representing the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Hockey League and several collegiate programs.

“Our CBP officers and import specialists work diligently to intercept shipments containing counterfeit and pirated items,” said Donald Conroy, port director for Detroit Metropolitan Airport. “It is very important that people buy from legitimate authorized retailers. These seizures represent the commitment by CBP in protecting the American consumer from receiving fraudulent, inferior and in many cases potentially dangerous products.”

Stopping the flow of fake goods is a priority for the U.S. government and CBP has designated intellectual property rights enforcement as a priority trade issue. Importation of counterfeit merchandise can cause significant revenue loss, damaging the U.S. economy.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.