KPCC News In Brief

Customs agency intercepts haul of counterfeit goods at Port of L.A.

Quite a haul of name-brand shoes and handbags turned up at the Port of Los Angeles yesterday. KPCC’s Cheryl Devall says it was an illegal haul.

Cheryl Devall: Imagine half a dozen giant shipping containers of Nike athletic shoes and designer purses, all intended to sell way below retail. Federal Customs and Border Protection officials say the goods would’ve been worth $32 million or more… if they’d been good.

Turns out they were all counterfeits shipped from China. The customs agency inspected, and intercepted, the containers on Monday. Three of them were headed to Los Angeles County, and three were destined for Orange County. That’s all the information the federal government’s giving up for now.

Customs authorities have tried to refute the claim that trafficking in fake goods is a victimless crime. They say the factories that turn out counterfeits promote substandard working conditions, erode the value of legitimate brands, and generate money for other illegal activities, including terrorism.

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• August 19, 2008 6:09 PM
• Categories: Business/Economy, Criminal Justice