$30K in counterfeit Estee Lauder, Sharpie markers headed to Pa. seized by customs agents
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized nearly $30,000 in counterfeit cosmetics and Sharpie markers headed to addresses in the Lehigh Valley and Berks County over the past month.
The agency said in a news release Tuesday that four shipments of counterfeit objects valued at roughly $28,550, had been seized by agents since the beginning of February.
The latest shipment, seized March 1, contained 60 boxes of counterfeit Estee Lauder Resilience Multi-Effect Moisturizer Tri-Peptide Face and Neck Crème, shipped from Hong Kong to an address in Allentown. Had the facial cream been genuine, it would have been worth $8,400, according to the release.
Before that, officers seized 50 boxes of counterfeit Estee Lauder creams on Feb. 27, which were being sent from China to an address in Whitehall. Officials said had it been genuine, it would have been worth $7,000.
One day before, officers with the agency seized 50 boxes of counterfeit SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 anti-aging cream which was sent to an address Allentown. That same day, they seized 50 boxes of counterfeit Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum cream, which was being sent to an address in Whitehall.
Those shipments were sent from Hong Kong and were worth a combined total of $13,150 had they been genuine, according to officials.
Officers also seized 3,000 counterfeit Sharpie pens, which were sent from China to an address in Birdsboro, Berks County.
Counterfeit cosmetics can have chemicals that could cause cancer, acne, eczema and other health issues, the release states.
Counterfeiters make goods using “substandard materials” that could break prematurely or hurt people, and may also be made in facilities that use forced labor, the agency said.
In each of the seizures, agency officers suspected the shipments were counterfeit and detained them. They then document the product and have them analyzed by experts, who verify they are counterfeit.
“The global marketplace has allowed unscrupulous vendors to peddle counterfeit consumer goods as authentic products to unsuspecting consumers, and profit handsomely while placing consumers’ health and safety at risk,” Cleatus P. Hunt Jr., CBP’s director for the Port of Philadelphia, said in the release. “Customs and Border Protection urges you to protect your families by purchasing authentic consumer products from reputable retailers. Consumers might save a buck buying a knockoff product today but may end up paying thousands more in unexpected medical bills tomorrow.”
More information on dangers from counterfeit products may be found at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.