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Los Angeles — U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Los Angeles donated 351 television/DVD combo units to Shelter Partnership, Inc., in Los Angeles, a non-profit charity organization.

The donation has an estimated domestic value of $41,142 and a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $63,828.

The television units arrived from China in a sea container at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport complex. The units were intercepted and seized by CBP for bearing counterfeit trademarks. The legitimate trademark owner has authorized CBP to donate the items to charity. “We are pleased to be able to donate these television units that will be put to good use,” said Kevin Weeks, CBP director of Los Angeles Field Operations.

Shelter Partnership, Executive Director stated, “Shelter Partnership is grateful for this donation of TV/DVD combo units donated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. We will be distributing the units to the over 200 homeless and domestic violence shelters that we serve in Los Angeles County through the S. Mark Taper Foundation Shelter Resource Bank.”

	click for hi-res Director of Field Operations Kevin Weeks and Jennifer Marquez Manager for Shelter Partnership, Inc.

In fiscal year 2008, CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement seized over $272.7 million worth of counterfeit items nationwide. Consumer electronics was one of the top five commodities seized with a total value of $22.9 million, which accounted for 8 percent of the entire value of goods seized.

CBP is charged with enforcing trade laws and has devoted substantial resources to target, intercept, detain, seize and forfeit shipments of goods that violate these laws.

Once federal forfeiture procedures are completed, seized items may be donated to relief efforts and to charity, with the trademark owner’s approval. Products that threaten the health and safety of American consumers are destroyed.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.