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January 11, 2007
Counterfeit goods seizures up 83% in FY 2006
DHS made 14,675 seizures worth more than $155 million
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today an 83 percent increase in seizures of counterfeit goods during fiscal year (FY) 2006. This year's activities continue a significant upward trend in the number and value of seizures of counterfeit goods, making 2006 the most productive in the department's history. The department's U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) components made more than 14,000 seizures of counterfeit goods worth more than $155 million, which represents a 67 percent increase from the year before. ICE investigations resulted in 219 arrests, 134 indictments and 170 convictions in intellectual property rights violations."The team of CBP and ICE is a counterfeiter's worst nightmare. Together we are committed to stopping criminals who attempt to profit from the sale of illegal and potentially harmful merchandise," said W. Ralph Basham, Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "CBP is using new techniques to help target and intercept pirated goods from overseas at all of our 326 ports of entry and mail facilities in the United States to protect American jobs and American business. We are identifying practices that trample on intellectual property rights and we are using audits to deprive counterfeiters of their illicit profits." "We cannot underestimate the threat posed by criminal organizations that exploit our commerce system through counterfeiting and piracy," said Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "ICE will vigorously pursue criminal charges, asset seizures and forfeitures against those who violate our intellectual property laws and threaten our national security, public safety and economic well-being."DHS is countering the growing trade in counterfeit commodities that adversely impacts the American economy and may pose health and safety risks to consumers. One of the top commodities seized in FY 2006 was footwear, which accounted for 41 percent of the entire value of goods seized. Major cases executed in FY2006 included:
In recent years, counterfeiting, piracy and other intellectual property rights violations have grown in magnitude and complexity, costing U.S. businesses billions of dollars in lost revenue and often posing health and safety risks to U.S. consumers. The growth in IPR violations has been fueled in part by the spread of enabling technology allowing for simple and low-cost duplication of copyrighted products, as well as by the rise in organized crime groups that smuggle and distribute counterfeit merchandise for profit. In many cases, international organized crime groups use the profits from the sale of counterfeit goods to bankroll other criminal activities, such as the trafficking in illegal drugs, weapons, and other contraband. As the primary agency responsible for U.S. border enforcement, CBP is a key player in IPR enforcement. To combat IPR theft, CBP has diversified its approach to IPR enforcement to include new approaches that complement traditional techniques focused on identifying and seizing counterfeit and pirated goods at U.S. borders. The agency has developed innovative methods such as risk modeling to identify high-risk shipments for border inspection, and expanded its efforts beyond border seizures by conducting IPR audits of importers. In addition, CBP works with trademark and copyright owners to protect IPR at the border, and with foreign governments to enhance customs cooperation internationally. As the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, ICE plays a leading role in targeting criminal organizations responsible for producing, smuggling, and distributing counterfeit products. ICE investigations focus not only on keeping counterfeit products off U.S. streets, but also on dismantling the criminal organizations behind this activity. ICE and the FBI manage the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, which coordinates the U.S. government's domestic and international law enforcement attack on IPR violations. ICE agents and CBP personnel throughout the country rely upon the IPR Coordination Center for guidance in their inspections and investigations. ICE and CBP will continue to work vigorously to pursue IPR violations. |
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