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  4. CBP Officers in Minneapolis Seize Cell Phone Accessories Worth Over $41,000

CBP Officers in Minneapolis Seize Cell Phone Accessories Worth Over $41,000

Release Date
Mon, 11/09/2020

MINNEAPOLIS— During an inspection of an arriving shipment, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Minneapolis uncovered counterfeit Apple and Samsung accessories worth more than $41,500.Cases

On November 5, CBP officers in Minneapolis held a shipment, manifested as phone cases. The parcel was inspected to determine the admissibility of its contents in accordance with CBP regulations. When the shipment was opened it was found to contain merchandise labeled as Samsung phone cases, IPhone phone cases, IPhone adapters, and IPhone cases.

Due to various inconsistencies, poor quality, and the incorrect packaging, the items were sent and inspected by an import specialist who determined the items were counterfeit and were seized. If these items were real, the total MSRP for these would have been $41,500. The packages were coming from Hong Kong and were going to one recipient in Minnesota.

“Substandard and illegal products harm the U.S. economy and the health and safety of consumers, in particular, the adapters can be exceptionally dangerous,” said Augustine Moore, Area Port Director-Minneapolis. “Once again our CBP officers at the Port of Minnesota have demonstrated their exceptional skill and superior commodity expertise.”

Intellectual property rights (IPR) protection is a priority trade issue for CBP. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, CBP and their partner agency Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) seized 27,599 shipments containing IPR violations with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of over $1.5 billion had the goods been genuine. Watches and jewelry represent 15 percent of all IPR seizures, and continue to top the list of all seized IPR materials.

CBP has established an educational initiative to raise consumer awareness about the consequences and dangers that are often associated with the purchase of counterfeit and pirated goods. Information about the Truth Behind Counterfeits public awareness campaign can be found at https://www.cbp.gov/FakeGoodsRealDangers.

CBP's border security mission is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations.  Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders. Learn more about CBP at www.CBP.gov.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021