CBP Seizes Fake Viagra Pills, Footwear, Wearing Apparel, Makeup and Perfume Worth Over $3.5 Million at LA/Long Beach Seaport

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport in coordination with import specialists from the Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising (CPMM), the Apparel, Footwear and Textiles (AFT) and the Pharmaceuticals, Health and Chemicals (PHC) Centers of Excellence and Expertise (Centers) seized 31,072 counterfeit products arriving in a containerized cargo shipment from China.

The seized items included 25,000 counterfeit Viagra pills, 5,145 pieces of wearing apparel and footwear in violation of the Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ferragamo, Moschino, Versace, Balenciaga, Nike’s Jordan and Air Max registered and recorded trademarks, and 927 pieces of counterfeit makeup and perfume in violation of the MAC and Chanel registered and recorded trademarks. If genuine, the seized merchandise would have had an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $3,536,949.00.

CBP officers in coordination with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents seized all counterfeit items and turned them over to the Los Angeles Police (LAPD) Illicit Pharmaceutical and Counterfeit Unit for further investigation on September 21.

If genuine, the seized merchandise would have had an
estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price
(MSRP) of $3,536,949.00.

“CBP is committed to detecting, intercepting and seizing contraband and dangerous imports arriving at our Greater Los Angeles Area ports of entry every day,” said Carlos C. Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “Not only do counterfeits damage the American economy, such goods can threaten the health and safety of consumers.”

Available on illegitimate websites and sold in underground outlets, counterfeit commodities multiply the illegal profits of smugglers and traffickers. Consumers are tricked into believing they are buying an original product at a significant discount.

“The best way consumers can protect themselves and avoid this type of fraud is to purchase items from legitimate sources only,” said Donald R. Kusser, CBP LA/Long Beach Seaport Port Director. “Consumers should also know that the money they pay for fake products often funds transnational criminal organizations.”

Nationwide in fiscal year (FY) 2019, CBP seized 27,599 shipments containing goods that violated intellectual property rights. The total estimated MSRP of the seized goods, had they been genuine, increased to nearly $1.5 billion from more than $1.4 billion in FY 2018.

Available on illegitimate websites and sold in
underground outlets, counterfeit commodities multiply
the illegal profits of smugglers and traffickers.

Watches and jewelry topped the list for number of seizures based on intellectual property rights (IPR) violations, with 4,242 representing 15 percent of all such seizures. Watches and jewelry continued as the top product seized for IPR violations by total MSRP value with seizures valued at more than $687 million, representing 44 percent of the total MSRP value of seizures in this category. Violative wearing apparel and accessories seizures placed second by MSRP value, with seizures estimated to be valued at more than $226 million.

Fiscal year 2019 Intellectual Property Rights Statistics

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