U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized more than four thousand counterfeit driver’s licenses originating from China during a cargo examination in Chicago.
Discussing the counterfeit licenses discovered by officials, Michael Pfeiffer, the Area Port Director of Chicago, stated, “Foreign Terrorist Organizations, criminal organizations, and persons involved in fraud schemes use these counterfeit IDs to avoid attracting attention to their illegal activities. Our CBP officers were able to identify these very realistic counterfeits and stop them from reaching their destinations.”
CBP officers intercepted 4,345 counterfeit licenses in total. Only two companies may print divers’ licenses in the U.S., the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA).
“All 485 shipments came from Hong Kong and China,” CBP said in a news release on the seizure. “In total CBP officers seized 516 counterfeit watches bearing the logos of Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Omega, Audemars Piguet, and others.”
“Intellectual property theft threatens America’s economic vitality and funds criminal activities as well as organized crime,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, the Director of Field Operations at the Chicago Field Office. “Our employees are dedicated to protecting private industry and consumers by removing these kinds of goods from our commerce.”
A recent report from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) found that China is one of the leading countries for counterfeit materials.
USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer said at the time of the report’s release that “Americans take great pride as the world’s leading innovators and creators.”
“Our trading partners must address the concerns identified in the Special 301 Report and stop those stealing the intellectual property of hard-working businesses and individuals. President Trump has a track record of empowering our innovators and workers, and this comprehensive report is a basis for the United States to take trade enforcement action against those not playing fairly,” Greer stated.
