Nike, Balenciaga knockoffs seized at Mississippi port. Consumers need to be careful.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says it expects more seizures of counterfeit merchandise as the holiday shopping period begins.
Justin Vicory- The knockoffs were labeled as Nike Air Max, Nike Air Jordan and Balenciaga.
- The shoes, valued at $4,000, were discovered in four separate packages.
- The bust follows the seizure of $2.2 million in fake Nikes in L.A. just days ago.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than $4,000 worth of counterfeit Nike and Balenciaga shoes at the Port of Vicksburg on Tuesday.
The brand name knockoffs from Hong Kong were labeled as Nike Air Max, Nike Air Jordan and Balenciaga shoes. The merchandise was destined for a Mississippi address, CBP said in a news release.
CBP officers discovered the shoes in four separate packages. They were marked as "casual shoes."
Customs says it expects more seizures as the holiday shopping period begins.
The bust follows the seizure of $2.2 million in fake Nikes in Los Angeles just days ago.
A legitimate pair of Balenciago shoes can sell between $700 and $1,000 online, while Nike Air Jordans can cost between $100 to $300, depending on the style.
"People often make the mistake of believing that purchasing counterfeit items are a victimless crime," port director Michael Morris said.
"However, these items often fund national and transnational criminal organizations and cost taxpayers billions."
Consumer alert:Warning: Counterfeit contacts could turn into your worst nightmare this Halloween
Contact Justin Vicory at 769-572-1418 or jvicory@gannett.com. Follow @justinvicory on Twitter.
