Counterfeit Super Bowl jerseys found at DHL hub at CVG

HEBRON, Ky. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents found counterfeit 2013 Super Bowl jerseys at the DHL consignment hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport during a recent operation that netted more than $3.4 million in counterfeit items in the past nine days.

A portion of the counterfeit items that the operation netted were also discovered at the UPS hub in Louisville, Ky.

"CBP officers at the DHL and UPS express consignment facilities have seized more than 60,000 counterfeit items over the past nine days during this intellectual property enforcement operation," said William A. Ferrara, CBP Acting Director of Field Operations in Chicago. "This counterfeit merchandise hurts consumers by being substandard and it hurts the U.S. economy as well. Also federal investigations have shown that some of these counterfeiting organizations are linked to other criminal enterprises."

During the weeks and days leading up to major sporting events, an array of products with the trademark and names of the popular teams are manufactured and made available to fans even though the companies are not licensed to produce these trademarked items, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. CBP works closely with the trademark holders and the private sector to distinguish authentic jerseys, hats and other items from the fakes.

CBP says China remains the primary source of counterfeit and pirated goods coming into the United States,  representing 72 percent of all intellectual property rights (IPR) seizures.

As the federal agency responsible for border protection, CBP plays a key role on the frontline of IPR enforcement as CBP officers and import specialists are involved in the seizure of goods infringing upon trademarks, trade names and copyrights.