CBP Lassoes Nearly $16k in Counterfeit Polo Shirts

STERLING, Va. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized nearly $16,000 in counterfeit Polo Ralph Lauren shirts on July 14 that arrived earlier in air cargo at Washington Dulles International Airport.

The shipment arrived as air cargo from Pakistan on June 29 and was destined to a location in Northern Virginia. CBP detained the collared Polo shirts and learned that the consignee did not have authority to import the shirts. The trademark holder then notified CBP that the 159 Polo shirts were counterfeit. CBP seized the shirts on July 14.

If authentic, the Polo shirts would have had a total estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of about $15,582.

“Customs and Border Protection will continue to work closely with trademark holders and our consumer safety partners to seize counterfeit and substandard merchandise that pose potential threats to American consumers and hurt American businesses,” said Wayne Biondi, CBP Port Director for the Area Port of Washington Dulles. “Intellectual property rights enforcement is a CBP priority trade issue, and a mission that we take very seriously.”

To protect both private industry and consumers, CBP has made Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement a CBP Priority Trade Issue. On a typical day during 2015, CBP seized $3.7 million worth of products that violate IPR laws at our nation’s 328 ports of entry. View CBP Snapshot to learn what else CBP achieves ‘On a Typical Day.’

CBP routinely conducts inspection operations on arriving and departing international flights and intercepts narcotics, weapons, currency, prohibited agriculture products, and other illicit items. Learn more about how CBP secures our nation’s borders at www.CBP.gov.