Officials: More Than $1 Million In Fake Guitars Found At Jersey City Mail Center
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Nearly 200 counterfeit guitars worth more than $1 million have been found at a mail facility in New Jersey, authorities said Wednesday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers made the discovery at the International and Bulk Mail Center in Jersey City.
As the officers were inspecting some oversize packages, they found five guitars with Gibson, Les Paul, Paul Reed Smith and Martin trademarks that had "Made in USA" on them.
Officers also found additional guitars with Epiphone, Fender, Taylor and Ernie Ball trademarks, authorities said.
But based on the packages' country of origin and poor craftsmanship, the officers suspected the guitars might be fakes, authorities said.
When they checked inside the packages, authorities said they found business cards with the name of a website that said the guitars could be purchased from China for about $200 to $500.
The suggested retail price for authentic guitars from those brands ranges anywhere from $2,000 to $54,000, authorities said.
"Counterfeit goods pose a serious threat to the consumer and economic loss to American business," Robert E. Perez, Director of CBP's New York Field Operations, said in a statement. "Enforcing intellectual property rights remains a priority for U.S. Customs and Border Protection."
In all, authorities said more than 185 counterfeit guitars were seized. They are all set to be destroyed.
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