U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Pennsylvania issued a warning about the dangers of counterfeit cosmetics after seizing four shipments of knockoff anti-aging facial creams, highlighting the serious health threats they pose.
Had the seized shipments been genuine, they would have been valued at a combined $28,550. CBP officials in Allentown warn that counterfeit cosmetics often contain harmful chemicals, including known carcinogens, and have been found to contain dangerous substances like urine.
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On March 1st, officers intercepted 60 boxes of counterfeit Estee Lauder Resilience Multi-Effect Moisturizer Tri-Peptide Face and Neck Crème, shipped from Hong Kong. The fake luxury brand facial cream had a potential value of $8,400.
Other seizures included:
- February 27th: 50 boxes of counterfeit Estee Lauder anti-aging creams from China to Whitehall, PA, valued at $7,000.
- February 26th: 50 boxes of counterfeit SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 cream from Hong Kong to Allentown, valued at $7,750.
- February 26th: 50 boxes of counterfeit Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum cream from Hong Kong to Whitehall, valued at $5,400.
- February 26th: 3,000 counterfeit Sharpie felt tip pens from China to Birdsboro, PA, valued at $1,530.
“The global marketplace has allowed unscrupulous vendors to peddle counterfeit consumer goods as authentic products to unsuspecting consumers, and profit handsomely while placing consumers’ health and safety at risk,” said Cleatus P. Hunt, Jr., CBP’s Area Port Director for the Area port of Philadelphia.
CBP officers detained the shipments based on suspicion of counterfeiting, and experts at the Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) confirmed the products were indeed fake after working with the trademark holders.
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CBP urges consumers to purchase authentic cosmetics from reputable retailers to avoid potential health risks. The agency also warns of the broader impact of counterfeit goods, including lost revenue for legitimate businesses and the funding of criminal organizations.
CBP’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement program plays a crucial role in protecting businesses and consumers. In fiscal year 2024, CBP recorded over 32,000 seizures of counterfeit goods, with an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of over $5.4 billion.
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