Natalia Chi
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Chicago seized more than 300 counterfeit designer items worth nearly $400,000 on Monday.
The items were found in two parcels from Thailand at O’Hare International Airport, the agency said in a statement.
The package, destined for his home in Tennessee, contained counterfeit watches, earrings, necklaces, sunglasses and other items from luxury brands including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Fendi.
The second, which was shipped to a home in Texas, contained fake Gucci, Prada, Christian Dior, Hermès, Yves Saint Laurent, Michael Kors, Tory Burch and Chanel earrings, scarves and belts.
If the item was genuine, the item would have retailed for more than $398,000, officials said.
Criminal gangs sell counterfeit goods to fund illegal activities, including drug trafficking and money laundering, officials said.
According to the agency, online shopping makes it easier for shoppers to be tricked into buying counterfeit goods. In the United States, consumers spend more than $100 billion a year on counterfeit goods, officials say.
“As consumers increasingly buy online or from third-party vendors, our representatives are at the forefront of preventing fraudsters from trying to make money by selling counterfeit goods. said La Fonda D. Sutton Burke, Director of Field Operations for Chicago, Customs. field office.
Counterfeit goods are commonly sold on third-party e-commerce sites such as eBay. Sellers often use photos of real items to persuade shoppers to buy them, officials said.
Shoppers were encouraged to carefully review online listings for luxury goods before making a purchase.
