U.S. Customs Seize $7M Counterfeit Apple Chargers Houston Port

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Houston seized over 370,000 counterfeit Apple USB phone chargers valued at more than $7 million. These chargers, packed in 7,460 cartons bearing the Apple trademark, were confirmed as fake by both CBP and Apple representatives. The counterfeit items were shipped through e-commerce channels targeting unsuspecting consumers, with criminal networks exploiting the high volume of cargo processed by CBP. CBP highlighted that counterfeit goods harm legitimate American jobs, evade taxes, and often involve unsanitary labor conditions, while also posing safety risks due to inferior manufacturing standards. Most counterfeit items seized, including these chargers, originate from China and Hong Kong, which account for 90% of seizures in fiscal year 2024. Consumers are advised to purchase directly from authorized retailers, be cautious of unusually low prices, and educate themselves to avoid falling victim to counterfeit scams.