Federal officials made nearly 10,000 seizures of counterfeit apparel and accessories, valued at $116.1 million, in 2013, according to a year-end report released this week. 2013's seizures represent a 20 percent increase over the total for 2012, says the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. There were a total of 28,212 seizures covering all consumer products, valued at $1.7 billion, for the 2013 fiscal year. While the Huffington Post reported late last year that sales of counterfeit goods were down, as consumers were opting for the real thing, counterfeits still make up a large industry. Some of the top confiscated items: Chanel, Christian Dior, Gucci, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Coach and Rolex accessories, as well as Ugg boots and True Religion jeans.
2013 Saw a Rise in the Seizure of Counterfeit Designer Goods
