Customs seizes $1M counterfeit shipment in Miami
Customs and Border Protection says its officers at the Port of Miami seized a container full of counterfeit merchandize that, sold as authentic versions of the product, would have a retail value in excess of $1 million.
CBP said officers at the Port of Miami electronically targeted a container en route from China to Belize that was being transshipped through Miami. The shipment was flagged for examination on arrival in the U.S., and when CBP officers opened the container, an inspection revealed that everything inside was counterfeit.
| CBP Officer Patricia Caballero, on U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trade Enforcement Team at the Port of Miami, sitting on 74 cartons of counterfeit merchandise that arrived from China in 20 foot container en route to Belize. (CBP photo) |
Special agent and CBP spokesman Zachary Mann said the goods were believed to be ultimately intended for sale in the U.S.
'Past experience would make it seem likely this would have been returned (from Belize) to somewhere in the U.S.' Mann said.
The imitations of high-value brand name products were packaged to look like the real thing. The counterfeits included sneakers and sports apparel designed to look like Nike, Reebok, Puma, Umbro, Adidas, and Tommy Hilfiger merchandise. In the same container, bogus designer merchandise was packaged to look like Prada, Ferragamo, Luis Vuitton, Versace and Hugo Boss.
'The packaging looked real, but upon close inspection the products inside were merely cheap imitations. The total value of the seized merchandise is $1,013,309.00 manufacturers suggested retail price,' a CBP statement said.
'The interception of counterfeit merchandise is an important piece of the CBP Mission to protect our borders,' commented Thomas Winkowski, CBP's Director of Field Operations for the Miami Field Office. 'Our officers are electronically targeting every container that enters the United States, first for any potential terrorist weapon or link to terrorism, and then for threats to our way of life. American consumers work hard for every dollar, and they deserve to have the opportunity to spend those hard earned dollars on genuine, quality merchandise.'