Chicago Customs Agents Seize Nearly $2.9M In Counterfeit Items

CHICAGO — Nearly $2.9 million in counterfeit handbags, jewelry, shoes and other merchandise was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials working near O’Hare International Airport in January alone, intercepting 29 shipments from a host of countries around the world.

Customs officials said Thursday the shipments were seized by officials working at a hub near O’Hare. Earlier this week, customs officials intercepted a shipment of merchandise from Israel containing more than $713,000 in fake Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Versace knock-off jewelry.

Jewelry, including rings necklaces, bracelets, and watches, was the most common item that was found in the shipments. Counterfeit designer handbags and apparel were also prevalent in the shipments, customs officials said Thursday.

The shipments were heading to various cities throughout the country and were headed to Illinois destinations such as Joliet, Lake in the Hills, and Chicago, the agency said.

Chicago Border Patrol officials dealt with at least one shipment of the counterfeit items each day during January, customs agents reported. Officers working at the International Mail Facility collected items totaling $2.88 million including counterfeit basketball shoes, wallets, jewelry and designer clothing.

“These are significant seizures for Chicago Border Protection, but unfortunately, CBP officers see counterfeit shipments like this every day,” LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director of Field Operations-Chicago said in a news release. “I’m extremely proud of these officers’ determination in stopping illicit shipments, and our commitment to protecting the American economy.”

All these counterfeit shipments were arriving from various countries including China, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Russia, the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, and Israel.

“This is just another example of the work our officers do to protect consumers and the U.S. economy,” Shane Campbell, Area Port Director-Chicago said. “Our officers are at the frontline protecting the U.S. economy and guarding against charlatans making money by selling fake merchandise.”

Customs officials said that each year, U.S. residents spend more than $100 million on intellectual property rights infringing goods. Of those items, 20 percent of those people fall victim to purchasing counterfeit items that are sold illegally around the world.

Officials said that counterfeit commodities fund smugglers and members of organized crime to sell the items. Consumers often believe they are buying a genuine product, but soon realize the item is not genuine.