U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) officers confiscated counterfeit Apple products valued more than $15,000 Monday at the Peace Bridge.
CBP officers said they selected a shipment labeled "Earphones" for further examination and found "EarPods" and adapters with the Apple logo.
Upon closer inspection, officers said the found the packaging and product quality inconsistent with Apple products.
Import specialists from CBP's Electronics Center of Excellence and Expertise detained the shipment for further analysis. Those specialists determined the products were fake.
CBP said counterfeit merchandise is often made of inferior materials and manufactured under uncontrolled or unsanitary conditions. It can be labeled with false information and even cause a safety hazard to users. It also violates intellectual property rights.
“Our officers and import specialists have done an excellent job targeting shipments and identifying counterfeit items,” said Acting Port Director Cary Frieling. “CBP protects businesses and consumers every day with an aggressive intellectual property rights enforcement program.”
