Category Archives: Seizure

CBP seizes counterfeit electronic door locks.

August 26, 2019 By in IPR, Uncategorized Tags: , , Leave a comment
electronic locks

Image of seized counterfeit locks, source: cbp.gov

According to a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) media release, CBP officers inspected a rail container and discovered electronic locks in violation of intellectual property rights (IPR) regulations. The seizure consister of 3,856 counterfeit locks with an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $760,841 if the goods had been genuine.

The counterfeit locks are the Lockly brand and typically retail for about $279.99 each.

The remainder of the press releases explained that illicit goods damage the US economy and threaten the health and safety of Americans.

If you have had your imports seized by Customs, contact experienced seizure attorney David Hsu – we can help fight to get your imports back – call 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, dh@gjatradelaw.com.

 

CBP posts their 2018 intellectual property rights seizure statistics.

August 22, 2019 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , Leave a comment
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Seized Asus and LG Phones. Source: cbp.gov

Earlier this month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted their 2018 intellectual property rights statistics. The annual report lists statistics for the products that infringe upon US trademark and copy rights or othersize subject to exclusion orders involving various agencies such as CBP, ICE, and HSI.
Here’s a summary:
1. How much product comes into the US? 11 million containers by sea, 10 million containers by truck, 3 million by rail and 250,000,000 by cargo/postal/express pacakages through the air.
2. 33,810 total seizures (333 less than FY 2017’s 34,143).
3. Total MSRP of seized goods 1.4 billion (1.2 billion in FY 2017).
4. ICE-HSI arrested 381 people, obtained 296 indictments, 260 convictions.
5. CBP’s Integrated Trade Targeting Networking (ITTN) conducted over 120 operations and seized 4,891 shipments of IPR-infringing goods with a total MSRP of $94 million.
6. Investigations by CBP’s Center of Excellence and Expertise totaled 24, with a MSRP of seized goods totaling over $11.5 million.
7. The “Truth Behind Counterfeits” public awareness campaign to educate the public on the negative impacts of counterfeit products included major billboards at airports and online ads on travel websites – it is estimated the campaign generated over 200 million views.
8. In 2018, CBP enforced over 17,641 active trademark and copyright recordations, including 2,289 new recordations and 812 renewals of expiring recordations.
9. There were over 161 million express shipments and 475 million shipped through international mail.
10. Over 90% of all IPR violations occurred among the international mail and express environments.
11. 18% of all seizures were wearing apparel/accessories, footwear came in number 2 at 14%.
12. Counterfeit watches and jewelry was the most seized product, totaling 44% of all seizures with a MSRP almost $618 million.
13. China was the number one trading partner with the most seized goods at 54% of the total number of seized goods.
The full report can be downloaded here:
If you have received a letter from Customs for alleged intellectual property rights violations, contact experienced seizure attorney David Hsu on his cell at 832-896-6288, or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com or dh@gjatradelaw.com.

CBP seizes counterfeit HD action cameras.

August 16, 2019 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment
Camera

Image of the seized shipment, source: cbp.gov

According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) media release, officers at the Dallas Fort Worth port of entry seized 4,000 counterfeit high definition cameras for intellectual property rights (IPR) violations. The MSRP of these cameras totaled $241,076.

The 4,000 high definition cameras were shipped in 220 boxes to an address in Carrollton. The shipment from Hong Kong was inspected and CBP officers believed the merchandise to be counterfeit due to poor quality packaging and shipping not normal for the genuine merchandise.

CBP’s Import Specialist Division confirmed the items were counterfeit with the company’s trademark holder.

What happens after something is seized by Customs? 
CBP will issue a Notice of Seizure (seizure notice). The seizure notice will indicate the item seized, the value of the shipment and the options available to the importer of record.

Time is of the essence in responding to Customs so an answer or other action must be taken immediately.

What happens if you do nothing after you receive notice from Customs?
If nothing is done within 30 days from the notice of seizure date, CBP will begin forfeiture and ultimately will destroy the seized items.

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

CBP seizes $1 million dollars worth of counterfeit phones.

August 15, 2019 By in ASUS, Customs Lawyer, LG, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
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Image of the seized phones, source: cbp.gov

According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) media release, officers in Philadelphia seized a a combined 4,449 counterfeit LG and ASUS smartphones in July. If the phones were authentic, they would have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $941,450.

The counterfeit phones were shipped from China and included 2,043 counterfeit LG phones in the first shipment and 1,926 LG and 480 ASUS counterfeit smartphones in the second shipment.

According to Customs, the phones were shipped from China to the Dominican Republic and then to Philadelphia. The phones were described in the paperwork as “cell phones used”. CBP says the phones will be destroyed.

If you have had your cell phones seized, contact experienced cellphone seizure attorney David Hsu immediately at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, dh@gjatradelaw.com.

CBP says the phones will be “destroyed”, however, there hasn’t been enough time from the date of the seizure to the date of the media release – there is still time to do something to get the phones released.

There are ways to get the phones released, contact David Hsu immediately – time is of the essence!

CBP seizes $3.4 million worth of counterfeit luxury goods.

August 14, 2019 By in U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , Leave a comment
close up photography of red and black nike running shoe

Photo by Shane Aldendorff on Pexels.com

According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection media release, CBP officers in Los Angeles seized handbags, belts, shoes, watches, electronics and other counterfeit items from brands such as Hermes, Fendi, Gucci, Versace, Casio and Samsung from a shipment originating from Hong Kong.

Import specialists stopped the shipment and seized over 5,300 counterfeit products that have an estimated MSRP of $3,475,000. The seizures included 1,242 counterfeit Gucci belts, 678 counterfeit Nike shoes, 531 counterfeit Louis Vuitton, 500 counterfeit Samsung adaptors and 502 counterfeit Gucci fanny packs among other items.

If you have had items seized by Customs due to suspicion of being counterfeit, contact experienced seizure attorney David Hsu at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, dh@gjatradelaw.com.

CBP Officers seize counterfeit items.

August 13, 2019 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment
Entire IPR Nike & Exclipse

Images of the seized Nike earbuds and watches, source CBP.gov

According to a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) media release, officers at the Champlain Port of Entry seized a shipment of more than 500 counterfeit Nike ear buds and over 200 counterfeit Eclipse watches. The shipment had a Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) value of $22,599.

The ear buds were suspected to be counterfeit due to the poor quality. Further examination confirmed the goods were counterfeit.

While not mentioned in the media release, CBP will send photos or samples to the holder of the intellectual property for verification. Most likely a photo was taken and submitted to Nike along with the details of the shipment. Nike would then confirm the shipment to be counterfeit.

The goods from Canada were seized. Also not mentioned in the media release, CBP will send a seizure notice to the importer of record. If the importer of record does not take any action, the goods will be forfeited and destroyed by Customs at a later date.

If you have had a seizure for intellectual property violations and want to discuss your options, contact experienced seizure attorney David Hsu at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, dh@gjatradelaw.com.

CBP officers seize $663K in unmarked Viagra pills.

August 12, 2019 By in FDA, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment
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Image of the seized pills, source: cbp.gov

According to a US Customs and Border Protection media release, CBP officers in Mississippi seized a shipment containing 27,000 unmarked Viagra capsules.

The shipment originated from Hong Kong and was estimated to have a MSRP of $663,000. The capsules were seized due to improper marking and only after inspection were the pills discovered to contain the active ingredient in Viagra – Sildenafil citrate. Specifically, the shipment violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, prohibiting the importation of drugs that are adulterated or misbranded.

If you have had a seizure by Customs, call our office immediately, there are certain things you must do within 30 days of any Customs seizure – David Hsu at 832-896-6288 or by email at dh@gjatradelaw.com, attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

CBP seizes goods for lead in paint.

July 20, 2019 By in CPSC, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment
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Image of seized brushes, source: cbp.gov

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Baltimore seized 790 children’s hair brushes from China. The children’s folding hair brushes contained a mirror and were included in a shipment which included “hats, gloves, hookah”. A sample of the shipment was sent to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to conduct a chemical analysis.

The CPSC advised CBP that the brushes contained excessive lead levels – more than 2,500 parts per million. In general, all children’s products made or imported into the US must not contain more than 100 parts per million of total lead content in “accessible parts”.

The appraised value of the seized goods carry a suggested retail price (MSRP) of $5,522. As the lead content is hazardous to children, the brushes will be destroyed by CBP.

While America took had the lead paint abatement initiative starting in the 70’s, the rest of the world is yet to fully rid the use of lead in many paints. Excessive amounts of lead are harmful to children if the accessible parts are placed in their mouths. Lead in paint causes illness and excessive levels further damage the a child’s development.

If you have any import/export questions, contact experienced trade attorney David Hsu at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, dh@gjatradelaw.com.

CBP seizes counterfeit Cartier products valued over $2.6 million.

July 20, 2019 By in Hong Kong, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , 1 Comment
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Counterfeit Cartier bracelets, source: cbp.gov

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Louisiana intercepted 180 pieces of counterfeit Cartier jewelry from a shipment from Hong Kong. If authentic Cartier, the bracelets would hold a MSRP of more than $2.6 million.

CBP officers inspected the parcel with a packing list specifying “jewelry accessory”. Upon inspection, they found bracelets packaged in Cartier boxes and determined the poor quality bracelets were counterfeit.

As have been previously posted on this blog, Hong Kong is commonly known by CBP to frequently ship counterfeit jewelry such as watches and accessories such as hats. This seizure is the largest (in terms of dollar value) for the entire year.

 

CBP stops invasive Scarab beetle pests from entering the US.

July 15, 2019 By in Uncategorized, wood wasps, wooden packaging materials Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment
Manatee

Scarab beetle, source: CBP.gov

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists in Florida stopped several invasive pests from entering the US – specifically the scarab beetle and heteroptera. The scarab beetle can infest and destroy crops while the heteroptera is known to damage plant roots.

According to the CBP media release, agriculture specialists in 2018 seized on average 319 pests at U.S. ports of entry and 4,552 materials for quarantine: plant, meat, animal byproduct and soil each day!

If you have had a Customs seizure due to an infestation of pests or wood-boring insects in wooden packaging materials – contact experienced trade attorney David Hsu at 832-896-6288 or by email at dh@gjatradelaw.com, attorney.dave@yahoo.com.