NEW YORK — U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Cisco Systems partnered on an operation resulting in the seizure of counterfeit electronics entering the United States March 12.
The operation was part of continued collaboration efforts with Cisco that began in 2018. The partnership developed and deployed eight barcode scanners to four ports and provided secured access to specialized tools which CBP officers and import specialists used to identify counterfeit Cisco products.
Officers from CBP’s New York Field Office, import specialists from the Electronics Center of Excellence and Expertise (ECEE), and representatives of CBP’s Donations Acceptance Program conducted the operation, which targeted shipments specific to Cisco entering through the John F. Kennedy Port of Entry. The donated tools helped CBP personnel to accurately validate the authenticity of 49 of the 56 shipments yielding a Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $626,880.
Counterfeit and pirated goods pose a threat to the health and safety of U.S. consumers. Counterfeit electronic goods also pose a high security risk for U.S. consumers and companies. Cisco provides secure networking technology and related components for use in a wide variety of sectors, including large enterprises such as the financial sector, service providers, and U.S. military and government entities.
CBP is authorized by law to accept donations of technology that can be used for IPR enforcement.
Suspected IPR violations, fraud or illegal trade activity can be reported by contacting CBP through the e-Allegations Online Trade Violation Reporting System or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT. Violations can also be reported to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center at https://www.iprcenter.gov/referral/ or by telephone at 1-866-IPR-2060.
