Thousands of counterfeit Gibson electric guitars were recently seized at the Los Angeles-Long Beach Seaport, making it the largest counterfeit musical instrument seizure on record. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, along with other law enforcement agencies, confiscated over 3,000 fake guitars valued at more than $18.7 million. The guitars, if authentic, would have been worth millions. These counterfeits were likely being sold through online sources, street markets, and unauthorized retailers.
The investigation into the counterfeit operation was a multiagency effort that intercepted the suspected cargo arriving in ocean containers from Asia. The seized guitars were confirmed by Gibson to be fake, as the company only manufactures its products in the U.S. Gibson is a well-known guitar brand that has been around since 1894 and produces models like Les Paul and SG. The company’s guitars are handcrafted by generations of American families.
Fake guitars often end up in the e-commerce market, according to port director Africa Bell. Authorities did not provide details on the investigation’s length or the individuals behind the operation. Counterfeit goods pose a threat to consumers’ health and safety, as they may be made with inferior materials in unsanitary conditions. They also harm legitimate businesses and small companies. Last year, CBP seized over 19,700 shipments of counterfeit goods worth over $2.7 billion, with a significant portion coming from China and Hong Kong. Authorities continue to warn consumers to be vigilant about purchasing items from unreliable sources.
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