U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency largely known for deporting illegal immigrants, said its Homeland Security Investigation agents found more 181,615 fake designer items that were being moved by a criminal organization in Laredo.
The same unnamed organization was busted in May for attempting to export to Mexico $16 million worth of goods that violated trademarks.
In mid-June, a large shipment of boxes from China arrived at an international terminal in Laredo. HSI was alerted because the shipping labels on the boxes were made out to addresses that don't exist.
After three days of watching packages being moved and stored, HSI moved in and seized 795 boxes worth of nonbrand goods meant to imitate Apple, Chanel, Coach, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Nike, Sony, and Under Armor products. The June bust was the largest-ever in Laredo, one of Border Patrol's nine sectors on the Southwest border.
"Criminal elements use every and any opportunity to sell substandard and counterfeit goods to the American public," acting deputy special agent in charge of HSI operations in Laredo, Jesus Adrian Flores, said in a statement.
ICE said the goods likely got into the U.S. by finding a way to "bribe Mexican cartels who often extort Mexican regulatory and law enforcement officials so that the merchandise passes without being inspected or paying import duties."