NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection trade enforcement officers in Norfolk seized shipments of illicit ceramic sinks and automotive radiators originating from China on Oct. 6.
Officers intercepted 2,772 ceramic sinks that featured a counterfeit certification mark after trade experts confirmed the UPC shield and design mark were printed without authorization. The shipment was bound for an address in Irvine, Calif., and carried an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $462,501 if authentic.
Additionally, officers seized 543 automotive radiators that were fraudulently imported using a victim’s stolen identity. That shipment was destined for an address in Los Angeles and was valued at $120,296.
Nefarious operators frequently use stolen identities of citizens or legitimate businesses to set up shell companies. These entities are created to illegally move commercial goods across borders to evade tariffs or smuggle contraband. Officers in Norfolk have previously intercepted ceramic sinks with counterfeit UPC markings and fraudulently imported automotive radiators…