Hundreds Of Fake Bryce Harper Jerseys Seized By Customs Officials

PHILADELPHIA — Hundreds of counterfeit Bryce Harper jerseys valued at more than $44,000 have been seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Philadelphia, officials said.

Since opening day, CBP officers in Philadelphia have seized 314 counterfeit Bryce Harper Phillies jerseys and detained many more. If authentic, the jerseys would have a value of $44,040, according to CBP.

The seized jerseys arrived in six express delivery shipments.

The largest shipment contained 204 Harper jerseys, the remaining parcels contained between 18 and 25 jerseys.

All parcels arrived from Hong Kong and were destined to addresses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

According to CBP officials, Counterfeit sports jerseys are made with substandard fabrics, and sometimes consist of dangerously flammable textiles.

Counterfeit sports apparel also deprives trademark holders of revenue, American workers of jobs, and helps fund other nefarious revenue schemes, officials said.

“Transnational criminal organizations counterfeit popular consumer products and Mr. Harper’s Phillies jersey is among the hottest consumer goods selling today, so it was a good bet that we’d start seeing counterfeit Harper jerseys,” said Casey Durst, CBP Director of Field Operations in Baltimore. “Customs and Border Protection officers will continue to work closely with our trade and consumer safety partners to identify and seize counterfeit merchandise, especially those products that may potentially harm our nation’s consumers.”