Fake Apple devices worth $400k are seized in US

Counterfeit Apple products including 1,200 AirPods and 220 Apple Watches collectively worth almost $400,000 have been seized at Long Beach Seaport and Ontario International Airport in the US.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said that the devices arrived from Hong Kong in six separate shipments, and were intercepted in the space of one week in July. They were sent to CBP's Electronics Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE-Electronics) in Los Angeles for assessment, which deemed them to be counterfeit, infringing various Apple trademarks and copyrights.

In an attempt to evade CBP detection, the counterfeit items were concealed in generic packaging, and illicitly manifested as generic headphones, said the CBP. Fake Apple products lack the advanced features found in genuine ones such as active noise cancellation, water resistance and seamless integration with Apple devices.

"Because they look and feel incredibly similar to legitimate Apple products, consumers are easily deceived by scammers," remarked Carlos Martel, CBP director of field operations in Los Angeles.

"Intercepting fraudulent import products is a top priority for CBP, we protect consumers and the economy every single day."