April 17, 2019
Contributed image/U.S. Customs & Border Patrol
At least 1,152 counterfeit Juul pods were seized by U.S. Customs & Border Patrol officers in Philadelphia.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized an international package this week in Philadelphia which contained more than 1,000 counterfeit Juul pods, the agency announced.
The package was sent from China and bound for Newark, Delaware, according to the agency, and contained at least 1,152 counterfeit Juul pods, three chargers, and a Juul device.
Agency officers inspected the package on April 1, suspected the package contained counterfeit products, and worked with trade experts to determine that the merchandise was, indeed, counterfeit.
If the pods, chargers, and device had been authorized Juul-brand merchandise, the package would have had an MSRP value of more than $4,000.
Casey Durst, CBP Director of Field Operations, said in a statement that counterfeit products, especially those that are ingested, are seized because they are dangerous.
“One of the chief reasons why Customs and Border Protection takes intellectual property rights enforcement so serious is because of the potential health and safety threats counterfeit goods like these electronic nicotine products pose to American consumers,” Durst said.
A Juul spokesperson provided this statement to PhillyVoice:
"We applaud the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for these crucial enforcement actions against these unlawful products, made with unknown and potentially hazardous chemicals, and with unregulated quality standards. JUUL Labs is committed to eliminating combustible cigarettes, the number one cause of preventable death in the world.
"To preserve that opportunity for adult smokers, we must restrict youth usage of vapor products, and counterfeit products sold illicitly undermine those efforts. That’s why taking swift and decisive action against counterfeit and infringing products is one of our key priorities, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol plays a critical role in stopping these products from entering the country. Our Global Brand Protection team will continue to work closely with law enforcement, regulators and other key stakeholders around the world to protect public health and combat youth access."
CBP estimates it intercepts $3.7 million worth of counterfeit products, or products violating intellectual property rights, each day.
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