ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Houston Police Department recently conducted an operation targeting a business in southwest Houston suspected of selling counterfeit sports merchandise. HSI, CBP and HPD seized more than 12,000 suspected counterfeit items with an estimated MSRP of $1.95 million.
The enforcement effort is part of “Operation Team Player,” a nationwide, multiagency operation conducted in conjunction with the IPR Center, CBP, state and local authorities, and major sports leagues to identify international shipments, online marketplaces, e-commerce platforms, markets and other retail outlets engaged in the sale of counterfeit goods.
Last year, more than 276,392 counterfeit sports items valued at $33.4 million MSRP were seized following a nationwide crackdown on fake merchandise.
“Trade in counterfeit consumer goods is illegal,” said CBP Houston Director of Field Operations Jud Murdock. “It threatens the health and safety of American consumers, steals revenues from trademark holders and tax revenues from the government, and it funds transnational criminal organizations. Counterfeit consumer goods may also be sourced or manufactured in facilities that employ forced labor. CBP and our law enforcement partners are committed to facilitating the smooth movement of legitimate goods while safeguarding the nation’s economic and national security.”
The original announcement can be found here.
