Friday, June 10, 2011

CBP Seizes $14.3 Million in Fake Designer Clothing in Los Angeles

Los Angeles — U.S. Customs and Border Protection import specialists and officers assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport discovered and seized 47,184 pieces of clothing in violation of Chanel, Polo, Gucci, Coogi and Dior trademarks in three shipments arriving from China over the past three months. 

On May 11, CBP officers seized a shipment containing 3,144 pairs of counterfeit Chanel ladies and girls woven pants. On April 11, CBP officers confiscated 16,512 knit dresses in violation of the Gucci and Polo trademark. Previously on March 17, CBP officers seized 27,528 pieces of counterfeit Polo, Gucci, Coogi and Dior.

The combined manufacturer’s suggested retail price for all three shipments is $14.3 million with a combined domestic value of $173,034.56.

“These three interceptions are indicative of the exceptional skill level and superior commodity expertise of our CBP officers and import specialists at Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport. Preventing the entry of counterfeit items is crucial to protecting consumers as well as the economy of the United States,” said Carlos Martel, CBP acting director of field operations in Los Angeles.

CBP’s strategic approach to intellectual property rights enforcement is multi-layered and includes seizing fake goods at our borders, pushing the border outward through audits of infringing importers and cooperation with our international trading partners, and partnering with industry and other government agencies to enhance these efforts.

In fiscal year 2010, CBP at Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport accomplished a record breaking year with 863 trade seizures with a domestic value exceeding $34 million. This is a 42 percent increase in the number of seizures from fiscal year 2009.

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.

No comments: