BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers do not just seize cargos containing drugs.
In fact, at the Buffalo port of entry, Peace Bridge warehouse, CBP seized nearly 1,000 electronic devices bearing counterfeit trademarks on March 30 that if authentic, would have been worth about $150,000, according to a news release issued on Wednesday.
CBP stated in the release that officers working in the warehouse encountered a commercial vehicle on Feb. 21 that contained multiple shipments of cell phones, smart watches, and streaming devices. Further investigation into the items determined them to be inauthentic and were subsequentially seized for bearing counterfeit trademarks.
On March 30, the CBP Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Center of Excellence and Expertise, which are CBP’s trade experts, appraised the products at $150,000 which is the Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price had these items been genuine.
“This seizure underscores the critical role that CBP officers play in protecting consumers and legitimate businesses from the dangers of counterfeit goods,” said Acting Port Director Sharon Swiatek. “Our officers are safeguarding both the integrity of our supply chain and the safety of the public.”
CBP has the authority to detain, seize, forfeit, and ultimately destroy imported merchandise if it bears an infringing trademark or copyright that has been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office and has subsequently been recorded with CBP through the e-Recordation program. Other violations can include misclassification of merchandise, false country-of-origin markings, health and safety issues, and valuation issues.
CBP said during fiscal year 2025, it seized over 78,000,000 counterfeit goods with an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price worth over $7.3 billion, had the goods been genuine.
Anyone with information about counterfeit merchandise being illegally imported into the U.S., CBP encourages you to submit an anonymous tip to CBP’s e-Allegation Program.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
