$300K In Fake Luxury Items Bound For Pittsburgh Seized

PITTSBURGH, PA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents recently seized a foreign shipment of knock-offs of high-end counterfeit handbags, jewelry and scarves bound for Pittsburgh.

Had it been authentic, the shipment, seized on January 29, would have been valued at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $307,870, custom and border protection officials said.

CBP officers inspected a parcel that arrived from China via air cargo. The parcel contained designerbrand products, including five handbags, five scarves, three bracelets three necklaces, and a set of earrings bearing the brand names Chanel, Christian Dior, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, and Van Cleef & Arpels.

CBP officers suspected the products to be counterfeit and detained the parcel for further investigation.

CBP officers submitted documentation and photographs to CBP’s trade experts at the Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Center of Excellence and Expertise for analysis. CBP’s trade experts worked with the trademark holders and verified that the products were counterfeit and subject to seizure.

“Unfortunately, today’s global marketplace has provided an attractive platform for bad actors in China to export their illegal and dangerous knockoff goods to unwitting Americans”, said Jason Hamilton, CBP’s port director at the Port of Pittsburgh.

“Make no mistake, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers will resolutely protect the homeland, American consumers and businesses by intercepting these, poor quality, fake goods.”