CBP Kicks Fake NFL, NBA, MLB Jerseys Out for Season

From the US Customs and Border Protection

More than $60,000 of Counterfeit Sports Apparel Seized

Los Angeles - Cracking down on unlicensed merchandise arriving from China, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and import specialists confiscated fifteen parcels containing counterfeit NFL, NBA and MLB jerseys with an estimated manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $61,333.

"Counterfeit sports apparel typically looks similar to brand name jerseys but are cheaper and of poorer quality. CBP officers and import specialists are highly specialized on product identification, detection and interception of trademark violators," said CBP Acting Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles, Carlos Martel.

CBP officers discovered the infringing parcels at air cargo consignment locations at Los Angeles and Ontario international airports in a string of seizures in the last three weeks. The combined domestic value of the seized merchandise is $25,534.

The theft of intellectual property and the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods threatens America's innovation based economy, the competitiveness of our businesses, the livelihoods of U.S. workers, and, in some cases, national security and the health and safety of our consumers.

The trade in these illegitimate goods is associated with smuggling and other criminal activities, and often funds criminal enterprises. In Fiscal Year 2009, 14,841 seizures of counterfeit and pirated goods with a domestic value of $270.7 million were intercepted at U.S. ports of entry.

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.