$680,000 Worth Of Counterfeit NHL, NFL And MLB Championship Rings Seized At Detroit Metro Airport

ROMULUS (WWJ) - Authorities say nearly $700,000 worth of counterfeit sports championship rings shipped from China were seized at Detroit Metro Airport.

It happened in late April as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection was conducting operations at a DHL consignment facility. The Cargo Enforcement Team selected and examined a shipment of rings from China, resulting in the discovery of 136 counterfeit championship rings from the National Football League, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball.

The rings displayed names and logos of several teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets. The shipment also included rings for the Chicago Black Hawks and Boston Red Sox.

Officials say the company identified as the receiver of the rings used a fictitious name and was found to have previous copyright/trademark violations.

"CBP continues to devote its efforts and resources to target, intercept and seize shipments of commodities that violate trade laws," Gary Calhoun, Acting Port Director for Detroit Metropolitan Airport, said in a statement. "Through tireless efforts, CBP officers and import specialists conduct these operations to stop shipments containing counterfeit and pirated items."

The enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights is a CBP Priority Trade Issue. Priority Trade Issues represent high-risk areas that can cause significant revenue loss, harm the U.S. economy, or threaten the health and safety of the American people.

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