In an ongoing crackdown on counterfeit sports memorabilia, US Customs and Border Protection officials last week seized 230 counterfeit Super Bowl, World Series and NBA championship rings made in China.
CBP officials arrested a shipment in Louisville last Thursday and found that the rings – which are valued at an estimated $345,000 on the open market – infringe intellectual property and trademark rights.
The shipment was en route to an apartment building in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
“As consumers increasingly shop from online or third-party retailers, our officials are on the front lines to protect themselves from scammers who expect to make money from selling counterfeit goods,” said Thomas Mahn, Port of Louisville director.
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The shipment of counterfeits included: 10 Milwaukee Bucks NBA championship rings, 30 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl rings, 80 Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rings and 110 Atlanta Braves World Series rings.
In February, government officials seized 284 fake NFL, MLB, NBA and WWE championship rings at a sporting goods store in Oviedo, Florida. These were also sent from China.
