U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP) Officers and Import Specialists assigned to the Los Angeles/Lengthy Seashore Seaport, along with U.S. Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) Particular Brokers, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division (LASD) Investigators, and Gibson representatives, introduced the seizure of over 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars with a producer’s advised retail value (MSRP),had they been real, of $18,742,820 (USD).
CBP officers in coordination with HSI particular brokers and LASD investigators intercepted the suspected cargo arriving in ocean containers from Asia. CBP’s Shopper Merchandise and Mass Merchandising Heart of Excellence (CPMM) assisted in estimating the MSRP of the cargo. Gibson confirmed that the guitars intercepted had been in reality counterfeit, nothing than genuine Gibson guitars are made in the united statesA. solely.
“These fraudulent guitars could appear and feel professional for unsuspecting customers shopping for them from third occasion on-line sources, road markets, unauthorized retailers, and person-to-person transactions,” mentioned Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Area Operations in Los Angeles. “As we strategy the busy Vacation buying season, customers ought to listen on the place they’re shopping for these items and the way a lot they’re paying, and if is just too good to be true it in all probability is.”
“Mental property theft just isn’t a victimless crime. Victims are American customers, companies, trademark holders and individuals who manufacture and promote professional merchandise. Usually, the illicit proceeds ensuing from the sale of counterfeit or unlicensed merchandise are funneled again to help a broad vary of unlawful actions,” mentioned HSI Los Angeles Deputy Particular Agent in Cost John Pasciucco.
“Counterfeit merchandise hurt professional companies, erode client belief, and harm the status of iconic manufacturers like Gibson. Past the financial losses, counterfeit items usually don’t meet security or high quality requirements, leaving customers in danger,” mentioned Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division Lieutenant William Kitchin.
“We’re grateful for the onerous work that our U.S. CBP officers, HSI particular brokers, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division investigators are doing to cease counterfeiting,” provides Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson. “Our partnership is designed to assist each company work collectively to guard customers and our followers from being misled into counterfeits.”
“That is actually emotional and private for us not solely due to the safety of our gamers, however due to our Gibson crew at giant, together with the artisans at our craftories in Nashville, TN and Bozeman, MT, who’re generations of American households which have devoted their total lives to handcrafting Gibson devices,” provides Beth Heidt, Chief Advertising and marketing Officer at Gibson. “As Gibson celebrates its a hundred and thirtieth anniversary this yr, we’re happy with our legacy of high quality and craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships with our artists, and our efforts to advertise and create extra musicians that proceed to form the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers throughout each style.”
Counterfeit items additionally threaten the well being and security of customers as they’re usually product of inferior supplies, manufactured underneath uncontrolled and unsanitary situations, and labeled with false data.
“Counterfeit items fund prison enterprises that have interaction in compelled labor, smuggling, drug trafficking, and different illicit actions, mentioned Africa R. Bell, CBP Port Director of the Los Angeles/Lengthy Seashore seaport. “Counterfeiters are solely curious about making a revenue — they don’t care about you or your loved ones’s well-being or the well-being of our economic system.”
To discourage the importation of illicit items and shield U.S. customers and companies, CBP has developed a proactive, aggressive, and dynamic enforcement strategy to Mental Property Proper (IPR) enforcement.
Nationwide, in Fiscal Yr 2023, CBP seized 19,724 shipments containing items that violated Mental Property Rights (IPR),this equates to almost 23 million counterfeit items. The full producer’s advised retail value (MSRP) of the seized items, had they been real, was over $2.7 billion (USD). Seizures of counterfeit items from China and Hong Kong accounted for 46% of counterfeit seizures and 84% of the worth of counterfeit seizures.
For extra details about the dangers related to buying counterfeit items, go to CBP’s Pretend Items, Actual Risks site and skim CBP’s e-Commerce Consciousness Information. Extra suggestions for safeguarding your loved ones from counterfeit items can be found at StopFakes.gov. Rights holders wishing to guard their model from infringing imports ought to report their logos and copyrights with CBP at iprr.cbp.gov.
Suspected mental property rights violations, fraud, or unlawful commerce exercise will be reported by contacting CBP by the e-Allegations On-line Commerce Violations Reporting System or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT. Violations will also be reported to the Nationwide Mental Property Rights Coordination Heart at www.iprcenter.gov/referral/ or by phone at 1-866-IPR-2060.
U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP) is America’s frontline: the nation’s largest legislation enforcement group and the world’s first unified border administration company. The 65,000+ women and men of CBP shield America on the bottom, within the air, and on the seas. We facilitate protected, lawful journey and commerce and guarantee our nation’s financial prosperity. We improve the nation’s safety by innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and belief.
Picture courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP)
