U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently intercepted multiple shipments of counterfeit goods in Allentown, including a large batch of fake Sharpie markers destined for Birdsboro. The seizures, which also included counterfeit luxury skincare products, highlight the risks associated with purchasing knockoff consumer goods.
On February 26, CBP officers confiscated 3,000 counterfeit Sharpie felt-tip pens that had been shipped from China to an address in Birdsboro. If genuine, the pens would have been valued at $1,530.
The same week, officers seized multiple shipments of counterfeit anti-aging skincare products from Hong Kong and China. These included fake versions of well-known brands such as Estée Lauder, Clinique, and SkinCeuticals, with a combined retail value of nearly $28,550 had they been authentic. The shipments were bound for addresses in Allentown and Whitehall.
Authorities warn that counterfeit cosmetics pose serious health risks, as they have been found to contain harmful chemicals, including substances linked to cancer, acne, and eczema.
“The global marketplace has allowed unscrupulous vendors to peddle counterfeit consumer goods as authentic products to unsuspecting consumers, and profit handsomely while placing consumers’ health and safety at risk,” said Cleatus P. Hunt, Jr., CBP’s Area Port Director for Philadelphia. He urged consumers to buy from reputable retailers to avoid potential health hazards.
Each of the intercepted shipments was flagged by CBP officers, who worked with intellectual property experts and brand holders to confirm the goods were counterfeit. The seizures were conducted under CBP’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement program, which aims to prevent the sale and distribution of knockoff goods that undermine legitimate businesses and could pose safety threats.
CBP officials continue to monitor shipments for counterfeit merchandise and encourage the public to report suspected counterfeit goods via e-Allegations.
For more information on counterfeit goods and consumer safety, visit CBP’s Fake Goods, Real Dangers campaign website.