http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_11407800

CBP, ICE release figures on counterfeit goods seized
Candi M. Lopez / El Paso Times
Posted: 01/08/2009 02:06:03 PM MST


EL PASO -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detailed statistics from their annual report of the millions of dollars in seizures made during the 2008 fiscal year in a news release Thursday.
Officials said 2008 seizures totaled more than $272.7 million in counterfeit and pirated goods, an increase of 38 percent over the previous year.

Among the potentially dangerous counterfeit products seized for intellectual property rights violations were electrical articles, semiconductors, computer network hardware, sunglasses, pharmaceuticals, and perfume, according to the news release.

The value of these confiscated products totaled $62.5 million, and represented an increase of 120 percent. These seizures rose 50 percent to 1,950. The agencies reported 1,295 seizures the previous fiscal year, with potentially dangerous counterfeit goods valued at almost $28 million.