Cincinnati CBP Seizes 200 Counterfeit Jerseys

Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 9:42 AM

CBP encourages consumers to be aware of counterfeit and pirated goods when shopping this holiday season.

Photo by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

(Cincinnati, Oh.) – Seeing an athlete’s full name on the back of a jersey is one way to identify a fake.

Over the past week, CBP officers in Cincinnati seized 200 counterfeit jerseys. The jerseys were printed with signatures of Jason Witten, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dwayne Haskins, and Rod Carew.

It was determined that the athletes’ autographs were unapproved and inauthentic. All the clothing originated in the Philippines and were destined for a warehouse in Nashville, Tennessee.

Had the clothing been real, their cumulative value would have been $42,625.

“Counterfeiters only care about making a profit,” said Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie. “They don’t care about the effect their fake product has on you, your family, or your job. Our officers are well-trained to find seizures like these, to continue our mission of protecting the American public and the American economy.”

In Fiscal Year 2020, CBP seized 26,503 shipments of counterfeit goods worth nearly $1.3 billion had the goods been genuine.

CBP encourages consumers to be aware of counterfeit and pirated goods when shopping this holiday season, particularly when purchasing online.