CINCINNATI, USA – Last Sunday, Cincinnati US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized five shipments of counterfeit Apple AirPods, which, had they been real, would have had a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of over $1.3 million.
On July 7, officers inspected five shipments of headsets from China and found what appeared to be 5,000 fake Apple AirPods and 1,372 fake Apple AirPods Pro. Officers referred all shipment information, including photographs, to CBP import specialists at the Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) to verify authenticity of the merchandise and to confirm possible trademark violations. The CEE determined all the AirPods were in violation of CBP trademark and copyright codes, and the shipment was declared seized on July 11.
“Our CBP officers continue to work at a high level and identifying counterfeit items like these helps prevent transnational criminal organizations from making a profit off unknowing consumers,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, Director Field Operations-Chicago “These seizures illustrate our commitment to stopping counterfeit products and protecting our nation’s economy and consumers from those intent on defrauding businesses and consumers alike.”
Although each shipment had been manifested as being worth only $312—totaling $1,872 for all five packages—the real product would have had a cumulative MSRP of $1,336,628.
All five shipments were headed to one address in Brownsville, Texas.
“Counterfeiters are only concerned about padding their bank accounts,” said Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie, “and do not consider the impact their fake goods have on the economy or the people who buy their inferior products. Our officers understand how important intellectual property rights enforcement is to our country’s economic integrity, and they work hard to remove fake merchandise from the supply chain so legitimate trade can flourish.”
Consumers can take simple steps to protect themselves and their families from counterfeit goods:
- Purchase goods directly from the trademark holder or from authorized retailers.
- When shopping online, read seller reviews and check for a working US.phone number and an address that can be used to contact the seller.
- Review CBP’s E-Commerce Counterfeit Awareness Guide for Consumers.
- Remember that if the price of a product seems too good to be true, it probably is.
To report suspected counterfeits, visit CBP’s online e-Allegations portal or call 1-800-BE-ALERT. More information about counterfeit goods is available on CBP’s Fake Goods, Real Dangers website and StopFakes.gov.
In Fiscal Year 2020, CBP and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations seized 26,503 shipments containing goods that violated intellectual property rights. Had the seized goods been genuine, their total estimated MSRP would have been over $1.3 billion. The People’s Republic of China remained the primary source for counterfeit and pirated goods.
