Latest news with #LaFondaSutton-Burke
UPI
24-06-2025
- Business
- UPI
CBP seizes $25M in counterfeit jewelry from China, Hong Kong
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Monday officers seized more than $25 million worth of counterfeit jewelry from China and Hong Kong before the thousands of bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings could be sold to unsuspecting buyers. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo June 23 (UPI) -- Officers seized more than $25 million worth of counterfeit jewelry in Kentucky last week, before the thousands of pieces could be sold to unsuspecting buyers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Monday. The first shipment of 318 bracelets with unauthorized Cartier trademarks arrived Thursday from China and was heading to a home in Pennsylvania. A second shipment of unauthorized Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry -- necklaces, earrings and rings -- arrived the same day from Hong Kong en route to a residence in Florida. On Friday, officers seized three shipments of 800 fake Cartier bracelets from China. Two of the shipments were heading to North Carolina and another to Michigan. Had the 2,193 pieces of jewelry been sold as genuine, they could have sold for more than $25 million, according to CBP officers. "Intellectual property theft threatens America's economic vitality and funds criminal activities and organized crime," said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, director of field operations at CBP's Chicago Field Office. China and Hong Kong are the top two source countries for Intellectual Property Rights seizures. The two countries accounted for 90% of all IPR seizures of counterfeit jewelry, watches and handbags last year, according to CBP. The proceeds from the sale of unlicensed products, which often use harmful or banned materials and support illegal labor practices, are commonly funneled back to support organized crime, according to Sutton-Burke, who said counterfeit sales also hurt business. "When consumers purchase counterfeit goods, legitimate companies lose revenue, which can force those companies to cut jobs. Our officers are dedicated to protecting private industry and consumers by removing these kinds of shipments from our commerce."
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
U.S. Customs seizes 102,000 banned pills in Cincinnati
March 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted 102,000 banned Artri King nutritional supplement pills worth an estimated $47,000 at the Cincinnati Port of Entry over the weekend. The pills were shipped by the same entity in Mexico and were destined for the same residence in California, CBP officials said Tuesday in a news release. The customs declaration for six packages containing the pills describes them as "Nutritional Supplement Natural INGR," according to the CBP. "Most people hear about CBP seizing narcotics shipments," CBP Chicago Field Office director of operations LaFonda Sutton-Burke said. "Shipments of unapproved pills are very dangerous, too." Sutton-Burke said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved the potentially dangerous pills. The pills "contain harmful chemicals which can lead to medical emergencies or even death," Simon-Burke said. The Artri King pills are promoted as treatment for muscle pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, bone cancer and other conditions and are sold through some retail stores and websites, such as and FDA lab analyses show the pills contain undeclared ingredients and are associated with liver toxicity and deaths. The FDA in April 2022 issued a warning saying the pills contain diclofenac and dexamethasone, neither of which are listed among its ingredients. "Consumers taking Artri King should immediately consult with their health care professional to safely discontinue use of this product," the FDA warning says. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that FDA officials say commonly is used to treat inflammatory conditions. Corticosteroids can impair a person's ability to fight infections and could cause high blood sugar levels, muscle injuries and psychiatric problems, according to the FDA. When taken over an extended periods or in high doses, they can suppress the adrenal gland, cause withdrawal symptoms and cause serious side effects when combined with other medications. Diclofenac is a non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drug commonly referred to as "NSAIDs" that could increase users' risks of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular medical events. The drug also could cause serious gastrointestinal damage, including bleeding, ulcers and fatal perforations of the stomach and intestines. It also might interact with other medications and significantly increase the risk of harmful medical reactions.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Customs inspectors in Chicago seize $118,000 in fake Forever Stamps
Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Customs and Border Protection agents seized nearly 162,000 counterfeit U.S. Forever Stamps at the Chicago International Mail Branch, the agency announced Thursday. The eight shipments of the counterfeit stamps, seized over the weekend, would have had a value of $118,000 if they had been authentic. According to CBP, agents have seen an increase in counterfeit postage stamps, especially around the holiday's including high-volume card holidays, such as Valentine's Day, which falls on Friday. "Counterfeiters only care about making a profit. They don't care about the effect that fake postage has on your ability to send important mail and overall impacts the U.S. economy," LaFonda Sutton-Burke, director of Field Operations-Chicago, said in a statement. "Our officers and specialists are some of the most highly trained in the nation, and their level of expertise is evident with these seizures." The Forever Stamp is a special non-denominated stamp that represents the current price of a 1 ounce First-Class Mail postage. All commemorative stamps, which celebrate artists, athletes, history, natural wonders and more, are issued as Forever Stamps, according to the USPS. Though Forever Stamps are commemorative, the flag stamp, which features the American flag, is the most frequently counterfeited, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said as it warned consumers to be careful where they buy their postage stamps. "Purchasing stamps from a third-party wholesaler or online websites can be unpredictable. You have no way to verify whether they are genuine or not," the USPIS said. "The Postal Inspection Service recommends purchasing from Approved Postal Providers. Approved vendors can include legitimate "big box" or warehouse retailers who do provide very small discounts on postage stamps, but this is through resale agreements with the Postal Service. Authentic stamps are made at the U.S. Bureau of Engraving & Printing. Counterfeits are typically produced in China, the agency said, but the release noted that the fakes are becoming increasingly difficult to detect. CBP seized the stamps for violating trademark laws. Agents were tipped off by the low invoice amount, the efforts the fraudsters used to conceal the stamps and the way they were routed in the country. "Often officers use their knowledge and expertise to find fraudulent shipments," the CBP release said. The agency said it routinely conducts inspections on arriving and departing flights at the country's 328 international ports of entry.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Yahoo
Chicago customs officers seize over 161K counterfeit Forever Stamps coming from China
CHICAGO — More than 161,000 counterfeit U.S. Forever Stamps were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed in Chicago last weekend. According to CBP, officers assigned to the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team at the Chicago International Mail Branch stopped eight shipments arriving from China that contained 161,860 counterfeit stamps. If they were genuine, the stamps would have a face value of over $118,000. Mayor Johnson's office releases video of city's gift inventory room after OIG report CBP said they seized the stamps for violating trademark laws and were able to identify them as counterfeit based on the low invoice value, routing and the efforts taken to conceal them. 'Counterfeiters only care about making a profit. They don't care about the effect that fake postage has on your ability to send important mail and overall impacts the U.S. economy,' CBP Director of Field Operations LaFonda Sutton-Burke said. 'Our officers and specialists are some of the most highly trained in the nation, and their level of expertise is evident with these seizures. CBP officers were able to identify these very realistic counterfeits and stop them from reaching their destinations.' According to the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the sale of counterfeit stamps on social media marketplaces, e-commerce sites via third-party vendors and other websites is growing. While the print quality of the stamps seized last week was poor, CBP said counterfeit quality is improving, and warned that the average consumer may not be able to tell the difference from an authentic stamp. Felony charges filed against man accused of killing pregnant woman in Portage Park USPIS warns that counterfeit stamps are often sold in bulk and at a significant discount, ranging from 25% to 50% off their face value. The steep discounts are often a sign that the stamps are counterfeit. The postal service said it does not sell stamps at a discount and while some legitimate stamp sellers are able to offer discounts, USPIS says the markdowns are often slight. Those who use counterfeit stamps knowingly could pay the price. The USPIS said forging or possession of counterfeit postage is a violation of federal law and could result in up to five years in prison. Student allegedly placed recording device in bathrooms at 2 Highland Park schools, city officials say Items that are found to be mailed with counterfeit stamps are also subject to being opened and disposed of as the postal service will consider them to be abandoned. In order to ensure stamps are not counterfeit, USPIS recommends purchasing stamps directly from the U.S. Postal Service in person or online. Visit the USPIS website for more information on how to report counterfeit stamps and sellers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
