U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Texas recently seized over $7 million in counterfeit Apple chargers. The Houston Seaport Trade Enforcement Team discovered 373,000 fake USB phone chargers, equating to 7,460 cartons bearing the Apple trademark. Both CBP and Apple confirmed the chargers’ counterfeit status. Acting Area Port Director John Landry highlighted that criminal networks exploit e-commerce to ship counterfeit items to unsuspecting consumers, improperly using the high cargo volume processed by CBP.
Landry emphasized the harmful effects of counterfeiting on legitimate jobs and the economy, noting that counterfeiters evade taxes and often produce goods in unsanitary conditions that exploit labor. He also pointed out that purchasing counterfeit items can inadvertently support criminal activities such as forced labor and human trafficking. Most seized counterfeit goods originate from China and Hong Kong, with these regions accounting for 90% of seizures during fiscal year 2024.
To protect themselves from counterfeits, CBP advises consumers to purchase directly from trademark holders or authorized retailers and to be aware of market prices—significantly lower prices may indicate fake goods. Consumers should look for reputable websites that provide customer service contact information and clear return policies. The overarching message from CBP is to remain vigilant, as products that seem too good to be true often are.
Lastly, Tara Martin, a USA TODAY reporter, encourages consumers to report counterfeit activity and seek goods from trusted sources in order to mitigate the impact of illegal trade.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
