America’s two largest customs agencies announced a new record Monday for the number of counterfeit and pirated goods intercepted while being imported to the United States in one year.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported an 8 percent uptick in the number of shipments it seized between Oct. 1, 2016, through Sept. 30, 2017, compared to the year before.
Customs officials apprehended 34,143 shipments of products that violated intellectual property rights laws, according to the joint report. The total haul is estimated to be worth $1.2 billion in retail value.
“Another record-breaking year of IPR seizures highlights the vigilance of CBP and ICE personnel in preventing counterfeit goods from entering our stream of commerce and their dedication to protecting the American people,” CBP acting commissioner Kevin McAleenan said in a statement. “The theft of intellectual property and trade in counterfeit and pirated goods causes harm to an innovation-based economy by threatening the competitiveness of businesses and the livelihoods of workers.”
Nearly 90 percent of all seized shipments came through express carriers and international mail. The Department of Homeland Security agencies also warned they are increasingly finding counterfeit items in e-commerce shipments.
More than 450 people were arrested in connection with the importations, while ICE investigations led to 242 convictions.
China and Hong Kong exported a total of 87 percent of counterfeit items.
