see also: in July 2008:   CBP Discovers 2.7 Tons of Marijuana on Cargo Box Truck   Holiday Travel Reminder for Northwest Border Crossers   Current, Former CBP Employees Assist in Arrest of Purse Snatchers   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Failure to Register as Sex Offender   California SENTRI Participant in Hot Water, CBP Finds Dope in Vehicle   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault on Minor   CBP Revokes Trusted Traveler Privileges After Finding Prohibited Items During Inspection ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers   Intellectual Property Rights

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Washington – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today the opening of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) new National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Coordination Center in Arlington, VA, to bring federal agencies together to combat the criminal organizations bringing counterfeit and pirated goods into the commerce of the United States.

“The key part of CBP’s IPR enforcement strategy is our partnerships,” said Commissioner W. Ralph Basham. “Working with our partners to develop creative and diverse approaches to IPR enforcement allows CBP to significantly broaden the scope and depth of our IPR efforts.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), ICE's sister agency in the DHS, will partner with ICE in the Center, along with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Justice’s FBI, the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Working together in the Center will more effectively use agencies’ authorities and resources to stop the flow of counterfeit goods, particularly products that threaten the safety of consumers or national security. The primary function of the Center will be criminal investigations to dismantle the networks and organizations profiting from the sale of fake goods. CBP will provide vital support to this effort by targeting and interdicting counterfeit and pirated goods at the border.

The Center will work with existing and emerging industries to identify counterfeiting and piracy threats to their intellectual property rights (trademarks and copyrights). CBP's expertise in identifying trends and smuggling techniques will further assist the Center in identifying these threats. The Center will also provide comprehensive training to domestic and international law enforcement agencies on investigative best practices to broaden intellectual property rights protection and expand transnational enforcement capabilities.

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.