INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations officers working at the International Falls Port of Entry intercepted an international shipment containing over $460,000 in counterfeit tablets.
The shipment originated in China and was destined for Ohio.
CBP Officers targeted a rail container and after reviewing the information in the shipping documents, selected it for examination. During an examination of the goods, the officers discovered 1,152 counterfeit touchscreen tablets.
tablets worth more than $460,000.
“CBP is focused on identifying and intercepting counterfeit merchandise and products. The enforcement of trade laws at U.S. ports of entry remains a high priority for us,” said Anthony Jackson, International Falls Port Director. “Counterfeiting adversely affects the ability of lawful copyright holders to profit from their original ideas. Counterfeiting also harms consumers because manufacturers of forged products have little motivation to use safe, high-quality materials in their products.”
CBP officers contacted CBP’s Electronics Center of Excellence and Expertise’s Import Specialists to determine their authenticity. After careful examination and coordination with the trademark owners, Import Specialists determined on June 12, 2020 that the product were in fact counterfeit.
CBP officers then seized the entire shipment of counterfeit tablets.
CBP officers at International Falls have seized 12 shipments containing counterfeit goods to date in Calendar Year (CY) 2020. The total estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the seized goods, had they been genuine, would be over $4.8 Million.
Stopping the flow of illicit goods is a priority trade issue for CBP. The importation of counterfeit merchandise can damage the U.S. economy and threaten the health and safety of the American people. For more information on CBP’s Intellectual Property Right (IPR) priority trade issue visit: CBP Trade and IPR.
CBP has established an educational initiative at U.S. International airports and online to raise consumer awareness about the consequences and dangers that can be associated with the purchase of counterfeit and pirated goods. These include the loss of American jobs, support of criminal activity, significant risks to consumer health and safety, and the impacts of unknowingly purchasing counterfeits online. For more information, see www.cbp.gov/fakegoodsrealdangers.
If you have any information regarding suspected fraud or illegal trade activity, please contact CBP through the e-Allegations Online Trade Violation Reporting System or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT. IPR 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.