see also: in November 2008:   Thanksgiving Day Marijuana Seizure Yields 450 Pounds at Douglas Port of Entry   Registered Sex Offender Intercepted by CBP at Pacific Highway Entry   CBP Officers Seize 145 Pounds of Ecstasy at Vermont Entry   CBP Officers in Boston Seize Undeclared $19,300   CBP Advises Travelers of Temporary Construction at Otay Mesa Border Crossing   CBP Officers in Niagara Falls Arrest Man Wanted in California   Customs and Border Protection Officers in New York Arrest Imposter ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers   Seizure Statistics By Top Trading Partner and Commodity

contacts for this news release

Tucson, Ariz — With the holiday season fast approaching, Customs and Border Protection officers, import specialists, and other employees at the ports of entry in Arizona have seized more than 125,000 toys that are either counterfeit or suspected of trademark infringement in a five-week period.

“Our mission is to protect the American public and our way of life. We not only prevent terrorists, illegal aliens, and drugs from coming into the country, but a large part of what we do is also trade-related. Ensuring goods coming into and going out of the country are legitimate, are not a danger to consumers, and are not infringing on legitimate trademark holders is also one of our primary missions,” said Director of Field Operations David Higgerson. “We take this responsibility seriously and continue to work to discover unsafe and counterfeit items.”

Beginning October 1, CBP employees began targeting shipments coming into or exiting the country through the Arizona ports of entry, looking for unsafe and counterfeit items. What they discovered in a short five-week period at the San Luis port of entry were 14 trucks filled with shipments of counterfeit toys. These shipments included items that closely resembled and were of competing quality to Barbie, Belinda, and Bratz dolls, Winnie the Pooh, Legos, and even items with counterfeit U.S. Olympic Committee markings.

All items were seized and are being held while CBP works with the legitimate trademark holders to decide their final disposition.

Additional information on CBP’s efforts to safeguard consumers and American industry can be found at on the CBP Web site’s Trade page. ( Seizure Statistics By Top Trading Partner and Commodity )

In fiscal year 2008, which ended on September 30, CBP screened and processed more than 381,000 commercial shipments at the ports of entry in Arizona, handling more than $19.4 billion in imported goods.

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.