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CBP San Juan Stops Millions in Counterfeits

Release Date
Thu, 06/22/2017

Operation Silver Snake sets San Juan IPR seizure record

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) San Juan Field Operations announced today that approximately 115 seizures where made of counterfeit products, valued at more than $6.5 million dollars, which were illegally imported into Puerto Rico via international mail. This is a record value of counterfeits seized by CBP in Puerto Rico during a single week

Various international mail packages inspected by CBP officers at the San Juan International Mail Branch revealed products that infringed intellectual property rights. The products were shipped from vendors in China.

Brenda Smith, (center) Executive Assistant Commissioner for Trade inspects seized counterfeit products during a recent visit to San Juan.

“CBP and its various Partner Agencies are shutting down the illegal trade of counterfeits into Puerto Rico,” said Edward Ryan, Assistant Director of Trade for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. “We will continue to fight to protect legitimate businesses and consumers from intellectual property thieves.”

A wide range of counterfeited products were seized during the week long enforcement effort, called Operation Silver Snake, to include: pharmaceuticals, electronics, jewelry, apparel, footwear, and more.

This is the third iteration of a week-long operation carried out in San Juan Trade Enforcement Team (TET), with the support of CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEEs), IPR-National Targeting & Analysis Group (NTAG), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice.

CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive IPR enforcement program. CBP targets and seizes imports of counterfeit and pirated goods, and enforces exclusion orders on patent-infringing and other IPR goods.

If you have information about counterfeit merchandise being illegally imported into the United States, CBP encourages you to submit an E-Allegation. The e-Allegation provides a means for the public to anonymously report to CBP any suspected violations of trade laws or regulations related to the importation of goods into the U.S

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 the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021