U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials seized nearly $1,300,000 worth of counterfeit toys ahead of the holidays, many of which were flagged as “potentially unsafe.”
In Newark, New Jersey, a “total of 141,112 UNO card games, 9,600 LOL Surprise! Under Wraps balls, and 1,980 LOL Surprise! Under Wraps capsule toys were seized” from a November shipment originating in China.
“Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has demonstrated its commitment to protecting the American consumer against the proliferation of substandard and potentially unsafe counterfeit consumer goods. Enforcing Intellectual Property Rights laws is a CBP priority trade mission. We will continue to work closely with our trade and law enforcement partners to identify and seize counterfeit merchandise that could potentially harm our Nation’s consumers and businesses,” Troy Miller, Director of the body’s New York Field Office, commented.
CBP officials also noted:
The manufacture and sale of counterfeit goods rob legitimate businesses of revenue, deprive American workers of jobs, and pose health and safety threats to U.S. consumers. Oftentimes, the proceeds from counterfeit merchandise sales support other nefarious and illicit businesses.
