Brief: US customs snare bad Christmas gifts

A clampdown by US customs at a major mail sorting facility has resulted in the seizure of $450,000-worth of fake goods.

Operation 'Bad Gifts' took place in the build-up to the Christmas period at the John F Kennedy International Mail Facility in New York to try to intercept shoddy merchandise posing as genuine clothes and accessories.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and import specialists made 203 seizures of counterfeit sneakers, handbags, watches and sunglasses with Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Michael Kors, Chanel and Coach trademarks in violation of federal anti-counterfeiting laws.

"CBP’s efforts to prevent these counterfeit items from entering the United States is crucial to protecting consumers and our economy," said Robert Perez, director of field operations at CBP's New York division.