CUSTOM SEIZE FAKE SCHOOL BAGS

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations, at Charleston seaport seized an estimated $310,500 in counterfeit children’s luggage in late July. The merchandise arrived into the port from China and was destined for a store in the Myrtle Beach, S.C. area.

The shipment details were scrutinized and it was determined that the cargo was worth a closer look. Examination and appraisal by CBP officers revealed 2,850 individual pieces of children’s luggage bearing trademarked and copyrighted images including Spiderman, The Avengers, Batman, Thomas & Friends, Despicable Me, several Disney characters, and Hello Kitty, among others. Representatives from the companies that hold these trademarks and copyrights were contacted and confirmed their images and markings were being used without their permission, making them counterfeit and subject to seizure.

“Our officers were able to intercept these counterfeit items ahead of back to school shopping.” said Robert Fencel Charleston Area Port Director. “CBP is constantly working to ensure legitimate intellectual property rights holders’ as it ties strongly into their economic security and profitability. CBP does this by removing counterfeit items from commerce to not harm idea creators, product designers, legitimate manufacturers, and unwitting consumers.”
If you have information about counterfeit merchandise being illegally imported into the U.S., CBP encourages you to submit an E-Allegation. The E-Allegation provides a means for the public to anonymously report to CBP any suspected violations of trade laws or regulations related to the importation of goods into the U.S.

CBP’s Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the U.S. while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. CBP conducts inspection operations and intercepts currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture products, and other illicit items at U.S. ports of entry nationwide. View CBP Snapshot to learn some of what CBP achieves “On a Typical Day.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.