CBP in Atlanta Seizes Counterfeit MLB, Designer Logo Hats

January 15, 2010 - U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Atlanta seized a shipment of counterfeit hats officials announced today. The shipment had a total domestic value of $130,000 and a manufacturers suggested retail price of $1,307,946.

On December 17, CBP officers discovered the shipment of counterfeit hats in a container that was selected for examination. After verifying the shipment violated trademark laws, the shipment was seized on January 6. A total of 42,925 hats bearing Major League Baseball team logos and a designer logo.

“In carrying out our primary mission to detect and prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the country, CBP encounters other violations that are contrary to importation laws,” said Stephen Kremer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection area port director in Atlanta. “Intercepting and seizing shipments of goods that violate U.S. trade laws is an important facet of CBP's over all enforcement posture to protect the U.S. consumer.”

To address the ongoing threat to domestic industries and the need to identify and interdict counterfeited goods, CBP works closely with private industry, U.S. government agencies and foreign governments to stem the flow of illegal goods to protect consumers and the economy. For more information on intellectual property rights dealing with trademarks, please go to the CBP Web site.