US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seized 24,792 counterfeit and pirated goods in 2011, a 24% increase over 2010.
There was a 44% increase in the number of seizures of health and safety products, valued at more than $60 million. Much of that was due to increases in pharmaceutical and perfume seizures.
Despite the sharp increases, the domestic value for seizures in fiscal year 2011 decreased by 5% to $178.9 million. According to ICE this is due to a shift toward using “international mail, express courier, and consolidated shipping services to import counterfeit and pirated goods”.
Acting CBP commissioner David Aguilar said in a statement: "The growth of websites selling counterfeit goods directly to consumers is one reason why CBP and ICE have seen a significant increase in the number of seizures at mail and express courier facilities. Although these websites may have low prices, what they do not tell consumers is that the true costs to our nation and consumers include lost jobs, stolen business profits, threats to our national security, and a serious risk of injury to consumers."
Counterfeit and pirated goods traced to China accounted for 62% or $124.7 million of the total domestic value of 2011 seizures.
The top 10 categories of IPR-infringing products seized were pharmaceuticals, health/personal care, eyewear/parts, critical technology components, electronic articles, cigarettes, perfumes/colognes, batteries, exercise equipment and transportation/parts.
According to the ICE release, this was the first time since FY 2005 that footwear was not the top commodity seized.
It continued: “Consumer electronics were the top commodity seized, and approximately one-third of this category was represented by IPR infringing cellular phones.”