US customs seizes fake automotive parts

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized more than 3,000 counterfeit automobile parts during an inspection at Port Everglades in Florida earlier this month.

The manufacturer's suggested retail price of the counterfeit products - which included over 180 different types of vehicle parts ranging from small fuses to front ends - is around $280,000.

Counterfeit automotive parts are a safety risk and can cause safety issues resulting in catastrophic failure, says the CBP, which indicate it is increasingly using technology to help it clamp down on fake goods in transit and share intelligence with brand owners.

The agency says it is refining its technology to more accurately identify suspected shipments of counterfeit and pirated goods for inspection.

"Close collaboration and strong partnerships at the seaport built into an aggressive enforcement programme bring about results," said Port Everglades CBP Port Director Jorge Roig.

"It's a safety concern and we’ll continue to selectively target imported goods for intellectual property rights violations."

In fiscal year 2014, there were 23,140 intellectual property rights seizures with an estimated manufacturer's suggested retail price of $1.2bn had the goods been genuine, according to the CBP.