CBP Blocks Massive Shipment of Fraudulent Tech Goods

April 22, 2026 By in Uncategorized Leave a comment

Federal agents at the Peace Bridge border crossing have successfully removed nearly 1,000 knock-off electronic devices from the supply chain. The seizure, which concluded on March 30, involved a variety of tech hardware that would have netted $150,000 on the retail market if the items were genuine.

The operation began in late February when CBP officers flagged a commercial truck for a secondary search. Inside, they found a mixed haul of streaming hardware, smartwatches, and mobile phones. Suspecting the items were low-quality clones of major brands, officers detained the shipment for a formal review. By the end of March, trade specialists from the CBP’s Center of Excellence and Expertise confirmed the products were inauthentic, leading to a total forfeiture of the cargo.

The Buffalo bust is a snapshot of a much larger federal crackdown on intellectual property theft. Statistics from fiscal year 2025 reveal the scale of the problem:

  • 78 Million+: Total counterfeit items seized nationwide.
  • $7.3 Billion: The estimated market value of those goods if they were real.

If you have had your goods seized by Customs, contact seizure attorney David Hsu by phone or text to 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

Customs enforcement and police officers reviewing seized electronics including smartphones and headphones

Photo Credit: WordPress AI generated image of seized counterfeit goods.

CBP Seizes over $1 million in counterfeit perfumes.

April 22, 2026 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Authorities at Port Everglades recently halted a shipment from Singapore containing over 8,500 bottles of counterfeit luxury perfumes. The haul included fraudulent versions of brands like Gucci, Armani, and Lancome, which were headed for a Miami destination. If these products had been authentic, their retail value would have exceeded $1 million.

The seizure was the result of a coordinated effort between local officers and the CBP’s Intellectual Property Enforcement Branch. Acting Port Director John Rico emphasized that these operations are vital for more than just economic reasons; counterfeit cosmetics often contain substandard ingredients that pose genuine health and safety risks to the public. Furthermore, the trade of these illicit goods often funds criminal organizations and may involve forced labor.

This bust follows a massive year for enforcement; in fiscal year 2025, the CBP seized over 78 million counterfeit items valued at more than $7.3 billion.

If you have had your goods seized by Customs, contact David Hsu by call or text at 832-896-6288 or by email to attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

Table covered with numerous counterfeit perfume bottles and boxes labeled as police evidence
AI generated image of seized counterfeit perfumes, not a CBP image.

Travelers to Iraq have $56,000 seized by Customs.

December 10, 2023 By in Customs Lawyer, FinCen Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment
Image of the seized currency and the detector dog.

According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) media release, CBP officers at Dulles airport seized $56,400 from an a traveler bound for Iraq last Thursday. Travelers can carry an unlimited amount of currency or monetary instruments when they travel into or exit the US, however, 31 USC 5316 requires travelers to report all currency or monetary instruments of $10,000 or greater to a CBP officer and complete a Fincen 105 form.

A currency detector dog was inspection passengers leaving the US when they were alerted to a man’s carryon baggage. CBP officers explained the reporting laws and asked the travelers how much money was in their possession. The travelers reported $30,000 and signed the FINCENT 105 form.

However, upon inspection, CBP officers discovered $42,000 in their carry on baggage and an additional $14,400 in the checked luggage.

If you or someone you know has had their currency seized by Customs, contact trade and customs attorney David Hsu for immediate assistance. Call or text: 832-896-6288 or email attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

CBP Officers in Cincinnati Seize Counterfeit Jewelery Worth over $3 Million.

November 2, 2023 By in Customs Lawyer Tags: , , , Leave a comment
Image of seized jewelry – source: CBP.gov

From October 25 to October 28, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Cincinnati seized shipments containing 795 pieces of counterfeit designer items. The items were examined and determined to be counterfeit by CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEE). The CEE is composed of the agency’s trade experts – if genuine, would have had a combined Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $3.16 million.

The shipments arrived from Hong Kong and were destined to locations in Texas and Florida. The counterfeit jewelry contained logos from LV, Chanel, Van Cleef, Tory Burch, Gucci, Cartier, Tiffany, Rolex and more.

All the counterfeit items were seized and referred to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further investigation.

If you have had your shipment seized, contact trade and customs attorney David Hsu at 832-896-6288, or attorney.dave@yahoo.com

CBP Seizes Unsafe Hair Dryers

October 20, 2023 By in CPSC Tags: , , , Leave a comment
Image of seized hair dryers, source: CBP.gov

Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in New York seized hair dryers on behalf of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The hair dryers were seized because the CPSC determined did not provide immersion protection in compliance the Standard for Safety for Household Electric Personal Grooming Appliances. Immersion protection reduces the risk of electrocution when products contact or are immersed in water.

A total of 65 hair dryers were seized by the CPSC due to a risk of a product hazard. The hair dryers were also seized on the basis of intellectual property rights (IPR) violations.

If you have had your goods seized for CPSC or IPR violations, contact David Hsu by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

If you are also aware of importers who are violating any CPSC, IPR or other violations, contact David Hsu also for your options.

CBP seizes counterfeit sports merchandise.

August 21, 2023 By in U.S. Customs and Border Protection Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment
Images of seized jerseys. Source: CBP.gov

This past July, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized shipments containing counterfeit merchandise bearing protected brands or trademarked logos of teams within Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), and the National Football League (NFL).

For example, CBP officers in Cincinnati 100 shipments containing counterfeit merchandise with a total Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $155,919. An additional 34 shipments were abandoned by the importers.

In the past year, the People’s Republic of China is the primary source of counterfeit and pirated goods seized in the U.S., accounting for a total estimated MSRP value of almost $1.8 billion (USD) and about 60% of the total estimated MSRP value of all seizures for intellectual property rights.

If you have had your goods seized for suspicion of being counterfeit, contact trade and customs attorney David Hsu by text/call at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

Taiwan and US Sign First Agreement under 21st Century Trade Initiative

July 23, 2023 By in international trade, trade deal Tags: , , , , Leave a comment
Lightning Over China and Taiwan (NASA, International Space Station, 07/27/14)
Lightning Over China and Taiwan (NASA, International Space Station, 07/27/14) by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is licensed under CC-BY-NC 2.0

According to a news release from the Office of the President of Taiwan sent on June 1, 2023:

Taiwan and US sign first agreement under 21st century trade initiative

On June 1, the first agreement under the Taiwan-US Initiative on 21st-Century Trade was signed at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Washington Headquarters by Representative to the US Bi-khim Hsiao (蕭美琴) and AIT Managing Director Ingrid Larson. President Tsai Ing-wen affirmed the signing of this agreement and said that she looks forward to Taiwan and the US building an even closer partnership, which will bring about more opportunities for Taiwan’s economy and industries.

President Tsai stated that the initiative is the most comprehensive trade agreement signed between Taiwan and the US since 1979, and that aside from creating more opportunities to develop our bilateral trade, it represents a key step in Taiwan’s efforts to sign trade agreements with major trading countries. This first agreement lays the groundwork for negotiations on seven different topics: labor, environment, agriculture, digital trade, standards, state-owned enterprises, and non-market policies and practices. The president further stated that following negotiations, the areas covered in this initiative will be expanded, setting a firm foundation for a future Taiwan-US free trade agreement. She also expressed hope that our two sides will continue to strengthen trade ties around this framework.

President Tsai praised and thanked Minister without Portfolio John C. C. Deng (鄧振中) for leading the Executive Yuan Office of Trade Negotiations and for coordinating with Representative Hsiao and different government agencies to facilitate this historic breakthrough in Taiwan-US trade development. However, as our mission has not yet been completed, President Tsai encouraged everyone across government to keep working to enhance our trade capacity, ensure our economic security, and achieve the best possible results for Taiwan and the US.

One year update on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

July 1, 2023 By in Customs Lawyer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Uyghur, Uyghur Forced Labor Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment
black and white photograph of a woman protesting on street against genocide of uyghurs
Photo by Chrisna Senatus on Pexels.com

Last year, the U.S Government, through the Department of Homeland Security implemented the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) under the authority of Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in an effort to eliminate goods suspected to be made with forced labor from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Customs has stopped about 4,300 shipments for UFLPA review and or enforcement of goods valued over $1.3 billion. Other statistics in the past year include 300 engagements with industry members, NGO’s, Congress and the media regarding the law. After one year, CBP is still committed to expand the UFLPA entity list of potential entities.

If you have an UFLPA issue, or want to take discuss UFLPA compliance and risk mitigation for your imports, contact David Hsu by text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, or DH@GJATradelaw.com.

CBP seizes $200,000 in unreported currency from Nigeria bound traveler.

February 4, 2023 By in Customs Lawyer, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Tags: , , , , Leave a comment
stack of different currency with photo of men and buildings
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), officers at Philadelphia International Airport seized $200,000 in unreported currency from a New Jersey traveler bound for Nigeria. Prior to the seizure, CBP Officers explained the currency reporting laws. Afterwards, the traveler declared to CBP he possessed $11,000. However, during a search of his baggage, officers discovered $200,068 in U.S. dollars and about $251.00 in Nigerian naira.

The total seizure of $200,319 represents the thrid largest unreported currency seizure since 2003. After seizing the funds, CBP remitted about $1,250 back to the traveler for “humanitarian purposes”.

If you have had your currency seized by CBP, contact currency seizure attorney David Hsu by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, DH@GJATradeLaw.com.

Solar panel shipments are half of all Uyghur forced labor inspections.

February 4, 2023 By in Customs Lawyer, forced labor, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Uyghur Forced Labor Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment
black and white photograph of a woman protesting on street against genocide of uyghurs
Photo by Chrisna Senatus on Pexels.com

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) was signed into law by President Biden in December 2021 and took effect in June 2022. The UFLPA requires importers and manufacturers to prove any goods made in Xinjiang, or include Xinjiang in the supply chain, are free from the use of forced labor. If the importers cannot prove forced labor was used in the production of the goods or components, then the goods would not be allowed entry into the US.

Additionally, importers can request a review from CBP of their supply chain, and if approved, the UFLPA will not apply to their goods.

From June to December 2022, half of all shipments held for inspection by CBP were related to solar panels or related components that are used by the solar industry. Out of those shipments held for inspection, about one-third were released after inspection.

As a background, since 2014, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has engaged in repressing the Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in the Xinjiang region in far-west China. Some methods of repression include human rights abuses, mass detention, re-education camps and forced labor. The PRC claims the actions are counter terrorism efforts and camps provide vocational training.

If you have had your goods investigated for suspicion of forced labor or if your company would like to apply for a Customs review of your supply chain, contact David Hsu by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com; DH@GJATradeLaw.com.