Thousands of counterfeit items that
would be worth millions --if they were genuine -- were seized in an LAX
bust. The items included fake brands like Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton
and more Aug. 14, 2019.
Customs inspectors recently
prevented thousands of counterfeit items from being smuggled into the
country from Hong Kong through Los Angeles International Airport,
including products falsely labeled as being produced by Hermes, Louis
Vuitton, Gucci and other companies, officials said Wednesday.
The
5,300 items that were seized in recent weeks would have had a retail
value of more than $3.4 million if genuine, according to Jaime Ruiz of
U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Among
the seized items were 1,242 counterfeit Gucci belts, 678 pairs of
counterfeit Nike shoes, 531 counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags, 230
counterfeit Hermes handbags, 192 counterfeit Casio Shock watches, 144
counterfeit Ferragamo belts and 100 counterfeit Versace belts.
"CBP
protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive
intellectual property rights enforcement program,'' said Carlos C.
Martel, CBP director of field operations in Los Angeles. "These seizures
demonstrate the high level of skill and vigilance of our officers and
import specialists.''
The merchandise arrived at LAX via air cargo from Hong Kong, Ruiz said.
"The
quantity and value of counterfeit merchandise seized is a clear
indication of the profits that are involved in the illegal trade of
luxury goods,'' Ruiz said.
Available
on illegitimate websites and sold in underground outlets, counterfeit
high-fashion commodities multiply the illegal profits of smugglers and
traffickers, Ruiz said.
"Consumers are tricked into
believing they are buying an original product at a significant discount,
and the money they spend on these types of goods is often used in other
forms of criminal enterprises,'' Ruiz said.
Ruiz
urged anyone with concerns about whether a product is genuine, or who
has any information regarding suspected fraud or illegal trade activity,
to report the information via the e-Allegations Online Trade Violation
Reporting System, or by calling 800-BE-ALERT.
