Federal officers have seized 80 counterfeit soccer jerseys at the Rochester port of entry.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the jerseys were discovered this month while officers inspected a shipment. The merchandise included 40 counterfeit FIFA jerseys.
Officials determined the jerseys were inauthentic and seized them for bearing counterfeit trademarks. If genuine, the merchandise would have had an estimated retail value of approximately $12,200.
Rochester Port Director John Benson said major events such as the World Cup often lead to an increase in counterfeit imports as sellers attempt to capitalize on demand for popular brands.
CBP is authorized to detain and seize imported goods bearing trademarks or copyrights registered with the federal government. Counterfeit merchandise may ultimately be destroyed.
Federal officials said counterfeit goods can harm legitimate businesses and workers while potentially creating health and safety risks for consumers. People who import counterfeit or pirated merchandise may face fines even if they did not knowingly purchase illegal goods.
Anyone with information about counterfeit merchandise being imported into the United States can file an anonymous report through CBP’s E-Allegation system.
