Millions in fake Gucci, Louis Vuitton found in ‘office supplies’ boxes at LAX, feds say

Maddie Capron
·1 min read

Thousands of fake designer products were found at Los Angeles International Airport disguised as “Plastic Office Supplies,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

The products were worth nearly $5 million, CBP said in a Wednesday news release. Officials seized 7,170 sandals, handbags, wallets and scarves.

CBP seized over 7,000 high-fashion counterfeit products at LAX arriving via express air cargo from China.
CBP seized over 7,000 high-fashion counterfeit products at LAX arriving via express air cargo from China.

Among the seized items were thousands of counterfeit Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Fendi and Versace sandals, as well as “572 Dior counterfeit cross body handbags; 625 Louis Vuitton counterfeit clutches; 357 Gucci purses; 346 Gucci wallets and 1,100 Louis Vuitton scarves,” CBP said in the news release. “If genuine, the seized merchandise would have had an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $4,899,905.00.”

Officials found the counterfeit items July 14 in a shipment of nearly 200 boxes marked as “Plastic Office Supplies,” CBP said.

“Counterfeit products have an enormous impact on the American economy by eroding the competitiveness of American workers, manufacturers and innovation,” Carlos C. Martel, CBP director of field operations in Los Angeles, said in the news release. “CBP commits substantial resources to detect, interdict and seize goods that infringe intellectual property rights laws.”

“As the holiday shopping season fast approaches, consumers should proceed with caution while making online purchases,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, CBP LAX Area Port Director.
“As the holiday shopping season fast approaches, consumers should proceed with caution while making online purchases,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, CBP LAX Area Port Director.

In fiscal year 2019, CBP found 27,599 shipments that violated intellectual property rights.

“The total estimated MSRP of the seized goods, had they been genuine, increased to nearly $1.5 billion from over $1.4 billion in FY 2018,” CBP said. “Watches and jewelry topped the list for number of seizures based on intellectual property rights (IPR) violations with 4,242 representing 15 percent of all such seizures.”