ICE Makes Huge Seizure of Counterfeit Goods in Laredo
Special agents in ICE's Homeland Security Investigations seized 181,000 counterfeit items, estimated to be worth $42.9 million if the products were real, as part of an operation in Laredo, Texas, the agency said in a news release. In June, the ICE agents "conducted surveillance over a three-day period and observed boxes containing suspected counterfeit merchandise being moved," it said. "During the enforcement action, HSI discovered that all shipping labels on all the boxes depicted fictitious delivery addresses in Laredo. HSI confirmed the boxes contained counterfeit merchandise and detained the boxes."
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A related seizure in May stopped trademark infringing goods estimated to be worth $16.1 million that were to be illegally exported to Mexico, it said. "Historical information suggests that smugglers who typically transport illicit goods into Mexico often fail to file required export documents through" ACE and "exploit the ports of entry by clandestinely smuggling merchandise to Mexico," the agency said. "Once in Mexico, the smugglers bribe Mexican cartels who often extort Mexican regulatory and law enforcement officials so that the merchandise passes without being inspected or paying import duties." A Laredo-based criminal organization was found to be involved in the transport of the goods in both seizures, though the investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed, ICE said. "Taken together, the two seizures represent $59 million in seized counterfeit merchandise, more than 260,000 pieces of garments, consumer electronics, cosmetics and jewelry," it said.