Washington, DC [US], December 1 (ANI): US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are warning parents about the dangers of counterfeit toys following the seizure of over USD 775,000 worth of fake products from China. The confiscated items, announced on November 25, included imitations of popular characters such as Mickey Mouse and Labubu, according to The Epoch Times (TET).
The shipment comprised 12,191 plush toys, 1,661 backpacks, 1,600 music boxes, 1,430 snow globes, 552 animal floral arrangements, and 200 rose decorations. CBP trade specialists estimated that the 17,634 seized items would have been valued at USD 776,562 if authentic. Other infringed trademarks included Despicable Me, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Hello Kitty, Kuromi, Mario, and Pikachu.
The counterfeit shipment was seized at the Area Port of Norfolk-Newport News on October 29 and was destined for Wood County, West Virginia, as reported by TET. “Ensuring that all imports comply with the law and are safe for consumers remains a key priority for Customs and Border Protection,” said Keri Brady, CBP’s area port director at Norfolk-Newport News.
As the holiday season approaches, CBP urged parents to exercise caution when purchasing toys, clothing, or accessories online or at significant discounts to ensure they are safe and free from health risks. In fiscal year 2024, CBP confiscated approximately 284,826 toys out of a total of over 32 million seized items. The estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the confiscated toys exceeded USD 7 million, while the total value of all seized items would have surpassed USD 5.4 billion if genuine.
China accounted for the largest number of seizures for intellectual property infringements, with over 22 million products valued at more than USD 4 billion if authentic. On November 12, CBP issued a warning about the dangers of purchasing counterfeit goods during the holidays, noting that such illegal sales are highly lucrative for criminal enterprises. In fiscal year 2025, nearly 79 million counterfeit items with an estimated retail value exceeding USD 7.3 billion were seized.
Diane J. Sabatino, acting executive assistant commissioner of CBP’s Office of Field Operations, emphasized: “Purchasing inexpensive, inauthentic products is not without consequences. It can pose risks due to toxic substances and may also finance criminal enterprises.”
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