The Department of Homeland Security has made great strides
against the counterfeit industry this month. In two raids alone, they
confiscated over $700K in counterfeit merchandise.
In Milwaukee, Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officers
seized over $400K in counterfeit goods. Working with the CDP, DHL and FedEx
facilities made over 80 seizures of goods including fake NFL jerseys, footwear,
Tiffany jewelry and DVDs.
“These seizures represent the commitment by CBP in
protecting the American consumer from receiving fraudulent, inferior and in
many cases potentially dangerous products.” said David Murphy, CBP director of
field operations in Chicago.
In New Orleans, over $250K was seized by the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a flea market. 16,171 pieces of
counterfeit merchandise were confiscated including fake Nike, Polo Ralph
Lauren, Oakley, Ray Ban, Coach, Chanel, Gucci, DVDs and CDs. ICE also found 3
DVD burners with the culprits and an additional 4,572 pieces of counterfeit
merchandise worth $59,000 that were abandoned during the operation.
(Image taken from ICE
Press Release)
ICE is the largest division of the Department of Homeland
Security that leads the U.S. in the fight against counterfeits. They work
to target criminal organizations that smuggle, manufacture, and distribute
counterfeit goods and we are eager to see what programs and technologies they
will use to further their quest to end counterfeiting.