LOUISVILLE, Ky—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers in Louisville intercepted 170 counterfeit championship rings arriving from China and destined for Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. 
On May 20, CBP officers seized a shipment of counterfeit championship rings from depicting the unauthorized use of copyrighted professional sports teams’ logos from the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. If the rings were real, the appraised total MSRP of the shipment was $43,450.
“CBP officers in Louisville are committed to protecting the American consumer, the economy, and the facilitation legitimate business,” Chief Customs and Border Protection Officer Brian Lick states, “when sports fans chose to spend their hard-earned money to show support for their favorite team they deserve to know they are receiving a genuine article.”
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement is a Priority Trade Issue. Importation of counterfeit merchandise can cause significant revenue loss, damage the U.S. economy, and threaten the health and safety of American people. In partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, CBP seized 27,599 shipments with IPR violations in fiscal year 2019. If the seized products were genuine, the total manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the items would have been valued at over $1.5 billion.
Over the past five years, e-commerce has grown exponentially as consumers are increasingly completing purchases online. These purchases are typically shipped through international mail and express courier services. In FY2019, over 90 percent of IPR seizures were found in express and international mail shipments.
If you have information concerning counterfeit merchandise illegally imported into the United States, CBP encourages you to submit an anonymous report through e-Allegations Online Trade Violation Reporting System.
CBP conducts operations at ports of entry throughout the United States, and regularly screens arriving international passengers and cargo for narcotics, weapons, and other restricted or prohibited products. CBP strives to serve as the premier law enforcement agency enhancing the Nation’s safety, security, and prosperity through collaboration, innovation, and integration.