A package from China whose paperwork described the contents as lithium ion batteries was actually found to contain fake AirPods, when checked by US Customs and Border Protection officers …
The CBP says that the poor quality of the packaging was the giveaway.
Once their suspicions were confirmed, likely by sending photos to Apple, the fake AirPods were formally seized and destroyed.
This catch, earlier this month, was a small one, comprising just 25 units with a retail value of $4,000. But the scale of counterfeit goods seized by CBP is huge. The agency said that it last year averaged more than four million dollars worth of fake product seizures daily.
Unsurprisingly, mainland China and Hong Kong account for more than 90% of the value of counterfeit goods seized. Operations are often carried out on a very large scale, and it’s likely these AirPods were sent in small batches to reduce the likelihood of inspection.
CBP officers and Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) agents seized 27,599 shipments containing counterfeit goods in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, down from 33,810 seizures in FY 2018. However, the total estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the seized goods, had they been genuine, increased to over $1.5 billion from nearly $1.4 billion in FY 2018 […]
“Counterfeit goods, like these, damage our economy,” said Shane Campbell, Area Port Director, Chicago. “When criminals sell these items, it deprives legitimate businesses from thriving. Unfortunately, many citizens do not realize the harmful effects that counterfeit products have on American businesses and jobs. American businesses and industries lose billions in revenues annually due to counterfeits and the public is put at risk with unsafe counterfeits which may not meet safety standards. Our CBP officers are proudly protecting American businesses, jobs and consumers.”
Via CNET
