SAVANNAH, GA. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Savannah recently seized 2,602 hoverboards after finding they posed a safety risk and used trademark logos without authorization. If the real deal, these hoverboards would have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price in excess of $1 million.
The first shipment arrived at the Port of Savannah, the third busiest seaport in the nation, on December 28, 2015, and was referred to CBP for inspection due to possible intellectual property rights infringement. The shipment originated in Asia and was seized on January 26, 2016, for IPR violation due to merchandise bearing counterfeit marks.
Various models of Hoverboards seized at Port of Savannah
“CBP works diligently to ensure the products that enter the U.S. are lawful and safe to use,” said Area Port Director Lisa Brown. “Theft of intellectual property and trade in fake goods threaten our economic vitality and national security, along with the American people’s health and safety.”
The hoverboard, a self-balancing, two-wheeled, motorized platform remains a very popular item across the country. However, major safety concerns have surfaced following reports of fires possibly caused by substandard and counterfeit lithium ion batteries used as a power source.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is examining hoverboard fires across the country, and offers buying and safety tips. Consumers may also report incidents to CPSC via www.SaferProducts.gov.
Stopping the flow of illicit goods is a priority trade issue for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
CBP is charged with the critical task of securing the country from terrorists and their weapons while facilitating legitimate trade and travel, including the monitoring of millions of sea cargo containers as they pass through our nation’s seaports every year. On a typical day, CBP welcomes nearly 1 million visitors, screens more than 67,000 cargo containers, arrests more than 1,100 individuals and seizes nearly 6 tons of illicit drugs.