CBP Cincinnati Seizes $5.3 Million Worth of Counterfeit Merchandise During ‘Operation Summers End’

Cincinnati — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has just concluded an extremely successful Intellectual Property Rights enforcement operation. Operation Summers End ran from Sept. 19-23, seizing hundreds of counterfeit items being imported into the United States. CBP officers assigned to the DHL hub, with the support of Import Specialists from Cleveland, have been targeting and seizing arriving parcels containing IPR violations. 

As a result of the five-day special operation conducted by CBP staff at the DHL hub, 289 seizures of intellectual property rights-infringing merchandise were initiated. The total manufacturers’ suggested retail price on items seized, if they had been legitimate, during Operation Summers End was $5,390,671.73.

“The American consumer should get what they pay for,” said David Murphy, CBP Director of Field Operations in Chicago. “Our officers and import specialists, working in close coordination with DHL have made this operation a success. CBP is committed to protecting our nation from not only bad people and bad things but anything that can cause harm to our citizens or our economic competitiveness, including the importation of counterfeit merchandise.”

Stopping the flow of fake goods is a priority for the U.S. government, and CBP has designated IPR enforcement as a Priority Trade Issue. Importation of counterfeit merchandise can cause significant revenue loss, hurt the U.S. economy, or threaten the health and safety of the American people. These products range from electrical articles such as curling iron and hair dryers that can catch fire or shock consumers, to fitness equipment, to pirated DVDs, to personal care items such as makeup that may contain harmful bacteria, to clothing, hats and handbags.

For more information on IPR issues, visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Web site.

CBP officers and agriculture specialists are stationed at the express consignment facilities located throughout the country. CBP constantly conducts enforcement operations on international parcels and on the lookout for any type of contraband or prohibited items being shipped to the U.S.

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.