see also: in CBP News Releases:   CBP Participates in International Border Seminar   CBP Officers Arrest Army Deserter at Pembina, N.D. Border Crossing   Border Patrol Participates in Special Olympics Torch Run   CBP Officers in New York Arrest Fugitive Wanted on Multiple Counts   Border Patrol Agents Assist Mobile Fallen Officer Memorial on Journey to Nation's Capitol   Neche, N.D. Border Crossers, Continue to Use Alternate Travel Routes   Border Patrol Seizes Nearly $400K during Traffic Stop ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Jamaica, N.Y. - Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection at JFK Airport seized a shipment of counterfeit designer t-shirts with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of more than $1.4 million and a domestic value of more than $50,000.

The shipment violates Intellectual Property Rights regulations. During routine manifests checks, CBP officers targeted the phony tops in a shipment that was manifested as “men’s cotton shirts.” The shipment was destined for Carlstadt, N.J.

Examination of the shipment revealed counterfeit Ed Hardy^TM by Christian Audigar tank tops and pullovers. CBP officers and import specialists were able to identify the particular shipment as counterfeit because the importer lacked the proper license to import Ed Hardy^TM merchandise. To address the ongoing threat to domestic industries and the need to identify and interdict counterfeited goods, CBP works closely with private industry, U.S. government agencies, and foreign governments to stem the flow of illegal goods to protect consumers and the economy.

“CBP remains committed to seizing illegitimate counterfeit and pirated goods. These violations hurt not only the American public but companies lose billions of dollars in revenue each year from trademark violations,” said Robert E. Perez, director of field operations in New York.

	click for hi-res Counterfeit designer t-shirts bearing the Ed Hardy trademark are seized at JFK International Airport in New York.

During last fiscal year, CBP officers and import specialists made more than 500 IPR seizures involving counterfeit goods totaling a domestic value of almost $4 million and an MSRP value of more than $310 million in air cargo arriving at JFK.

CBP is a key player in the enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights. With the growth of foreign trade, unscrupulous companies have profited billions of dollars from the sale of pirated IPR goods. To combat the counterfeit trade, most trademark and copyright holders register with CBP through an online system that assists CBP officers and import specialists to easily identify fake merchandise. CBP provides considerable resources, diverse personnel and focused training to respond to IPR issues. CBP’s IPR enforcement strategy is multi-layered and includes seizing fake goods at our borders, pushing the border outward through audits of infringing importers and cooperation with our international trading partners, and partnering with industry and other government agencies to enhance these efforts.

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.