Dozens Of ‘Fake’ Purses Seized At Border
EL PASO, Texas – Smugglers try to get more than just drugs and illegal immigrants across the border, now they’re also trying to sneak in purses.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, officers have seized 40 counterfeit handbags. On May 9, officers at the Ysleta found 23 women’s handbags hidden inside a vehicle.
The bogus bags had a street value of $13,573.
That was the first of 2 counterfeit seizures in the last 45 days.
On May 30, CBP officers working at the Ysleta border crossing intercepted 17 bogus handbags from a U.S. Citizen residing in Fabens, Texas. The Coach, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Gucci counterfeit purses were seized.
“It is vital to our economy that we keep counterfeit merchandise from entering the United States,” said Arthur Gonzales, Acting Port Director, U.S. Customs and Border Protection in El Paso.
The global economy for counterfeit or pirate goods is massive. Every year, American businesses lose billions of dollars from the importation and sale of counterfeit goods, and the infringement of copyrights, trademarks, and patent, officials said. These infringements include counterfeit computer software and games, movies, clothing, jewelry, handbags, shoes and perfumes, watches, and cigarettes.
