U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Rochester, New York port of entry recently seized a shipment of counterfeit designer merchandise. The items included watches, shoes, handbags, and jewelry with fake trademarks of well-known brands. After inspection, CBP determined the goods were not authentic. The estimated Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the items, if genuine, would have been about $425,125.
CBP reports that counterfeit imports often increase during the holiday shopping season. Acting Port Director Philip Young stated that there is higher demand for designer goods at this time. He noted that CBP works to protect consumers and businesses from counterfeit products.
CBP encourages the public to report suspected violations through its E-Allegation system or by contacting the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. These channels allow individuals to report possible illegal trade activities…