A bag check resulted in one traveler being caught with $250K worth of counterfeit goods in his luggage at Virginia Airport.
An unnamed man from Pennsylvania who was traveling in from Dubai reportedly had over $250,000 worth of counterfeit items in his luggage. According to a release by Control and Border Protection, the numerous counterfeit items were seized by CBP agents at Dulles Airport.
The seized bag contained 18 counterfeit designer wristwatches including Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, and Rolex. Amongst the counterfeit goods was a Louis Vuitton purse, and two pairs of Ray Ban sunglasses, a release by CBP reveals.
CBP’s trade specialists at the Consumer Products and Mass Merchandise Center of Excellence and Expertise worked to rule the items’ authenticity and deemed them counterfeit copies that “violated intellectual property rights”. Reports show that the items were seized by CBP officers on Tuesday.
Had the items been authentic rather than fakes, CBP import specialists valued the counterfeit watches, Louis Vuitton purse, and two pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses at more than $254,000. All products were manufactured in China and shipped to a vendor in Pakistan, where the Pennsylvania traveler originally purchased them.
“Counterfeit consumer goods violate United States intellectual property laws, steals revenue from trademark holders, may potentially harm U.S. consumers, and are never a good thing to pack in your baggage if you are heading to a Customs and Border Protection arrivals inspection,” said Daniel Escobedo, CBP’s Area Port Director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C.
“Customs and Border Protection remains committed to protecting U.S. businesses and consumers by intercepting counterfeit and potentially harmful goods that help fund transnational criminal groups,” Escobedo continued.
This story of a traveler unlawfully bringing in $250K worth of counterfeit goods (had they been authentic) sits among other shocking luggage related airline issues, such as this one where a traveler narrowly escaped trouble after helping an elderly woman with her luggage.
