Los Angeles–14,806 pairs of counterfeit Nike shoes were recently seized at the Los Angeles / Long Beach Seaport. If genuine, the seized shoes would have an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $2,247,680.
The shoes, which arrived from China in two containers, were misdeclared as “napkins” in a clear attempt to disguise the illicit cargo.
The shoes were in violation of Nike’s Air Jordan 1 Off-White, Air Jordan 12, Air Jordan 1 (blue, black, red, white), Air Jordan 11, Air Max ’97 protected designs and trademarks.
These special edition Nike and retro designs are highly coveted by collectors and sport shoes enthusiasts. A legitimate pair can potentially sell for $1,500 dollars and up to $2,000 online. Consumers shopping online are eventually likely to encounter fraudulent sellers.
“Counterfeit brand-name shoes is a multi-million dollar criminal industry. The trafficking of these items is extremely lucrative and becomes more profitable in markets involving successful and popular products.” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, CBP Port Director of the LA/Long Beach Seaport.
