NORFOLK, VA — With five seizures in two weeks including four counterfeit seizures and one export weapon seizure, U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) in Norfolk have been able to stop over $3 million in illegal goods from entering and leaving the country.
CBP officers intercepted a .44 magnum revolver and 300 rounds of ammunition concealed in a paint can along with other various household items being exported to Montenegro, May 4. Over the next week, CBP made four additional seizures of counterfeit trademarks totaling a manufactured suggest retail price of $3.1 million.
The largest seizure was a shipment of perfume imported from India bearing the trademarks of Chanel, Paco Ramone and Calvin Klein. The seizure totaled 29,000 bottles of perfume worth $2.9 million. Additionally, 1330 counterfeit Bluetooth speakers, 570 jackets with YKK brand zippers and 500 safety helmets with UL markings were also seized. All were determined to be in violation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
paint can. The exporter did not include
the weapon in the manifest.
“Protecting intellectual property rights is a critical part of Customs and Border Protection's trade enforcement mission and critical to protecting American consumers, businesses and our nation's economy,” said Mark J. Laria, Area Port Director for Port of Norfolk. “Violating trademark protections is very serious in nature. This seizure illustrates the hard work CBP officers perform every day in combating the illegitimate trade in counterfeit goods.”
Products that infringe on U.S. trademarks, copyrights, and patents threaten the health and safety of American consumers, the economy, and national security. The Port of Norfolk continues to work with Homeland Security Investigations, and other law enforcement agencies, to disrupt the flow of counterfeit goods entering the country in an effort to protect American consumers and brand holders.
CBP continues to target shipments that may include IPR violations. On a typical day in 2016, CBP officers seized $3.8 million worth of products with IPR violations. In the first half of fiscal year 2017, CBP operations led to the seizure of more than $14 million in counterfeit goods.