US Border: Record Seizure of $18M in Fake Gibson Guitars in Los Angeles
Fake Asian-made counterfeits endanger supply of "Made in USA" goods, Feds say
US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Officers in Los Angeles have announced a record-breaking seizure - not of drugs, but of fake Gibson guitars!
In what the agency calls the "largest counterfeit musical instrument seizure on record" CBP Officers intercepted over 3,000 copycat Gibson arriving in ocean containers from Asia. Authentic Gibson guitars are made in the U.S.A. only. Had they been genuine, these (so-called) "Gibson guitars" would have sold for $18,742,820 on the street.
"As we approach the busy Holiday shopping season, consumers should pay attention to where they are buying these goods and how much they are paying, and if it is too good to be true it probably is.” -Cheryl M. Davies, US Customs & Border Protection
In addition to the CBP, Homeland Security Investigators and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department participated in the operation.
We are grateful for the hard work that our U.S. CBP officers, HSI special agents, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigators are doing to stop counterfeiting. Our partnership is designed to help every agency work together to protect consumers and our fans from being misled into counterfeits.” -Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson
Copies of Gibson's iconic Les Paul models were among the fake guitars officers seized.
The seizures are especially meaningful for Gibson because the company is celebrating the 130th Anniversary of its founding by Orville Gibson out of a one-room workshop in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
"This is really emotional and personal for us not only because of the protection of our players but because of our Gibson team at large, including the artisans at our craftories in Nashville, TN, and Bozeman, MT, who are generations of American families that have dedicated their entire lives to handcrafting Gibson instruments." Beth Heidt, Chief Marketing Officer at Gibson
“Counterfeit goods fund criminal enterprises that engage in forced labor, smuggling, drug trafficking, and other illicit activities. Counterfeiters are only interested in making a profit – they do not care about you or your family’s well-being or the well-being of our economy." -Africa R. Bell, Director, LA/Long Beach Seaport
Last year CBP seized 19,724 shipments of nearly 23 million counterfeit goods worth more than 2.7 billion dollars. Counterfeit goods from China and Hong Kong accounted for 46% of counterfeit seizures and 84% of the value of CBP's counterfeit seizures.
Should more be done to stop manufacturers of fake US Goods in Hong Kong & China?
Share your opinion in the comments on this article!
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
