CBP has made the largest counterfeit musical instrument seizure on record, confiscating more than 3,000 fake Gibson guitars at the LA/Long Beach Seaport, the agency announced Tuesday.
The guitars, if genuine, would have had a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $18.7 million, officials said Tuesday.
The counterfeit shipment, which arrived in ocean containers from Asia, was intercepted during a joint operation involving CBP officers, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) investigators, and Gibson representatives.
Gibson confirmed the guitars were fake, emphasizing that authentic Gibson instruments are made exclusively in the United States.
“These fraudulent guitars may look and feel legitimate for unsuspecting consumers buying them from third-party online sources, street markets, unauthorized retailers, and person-to-person transactions,” said Cheryl M. Davies, CBP director of field operations in Los Angeles. “As we approach the busy holiday shopping season, consumers should pay attention to where they are buying these goods and how much they are paying. If it is too good to be true, it probably is.”
Officials warned that counterfeit goods not only harm businesses but can also be dangerous for consumers.
“Counterfeit products harm legitimate businesses, erode consumer trust, and damage the reputation of iconic brands like Gibson,” said LASD Lieutenant William Kitchin. “Beyond the economic losses, counterfeit goods often do not meet safety or quality standards, leaving consumers at risk.”
HSI Los Angeles Deputy Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco highlighted the broader dangers of intellectual property theft. “Intellectual property theft is not a victimless crime. Victims are American consumers, businesses, trademark holders, and people who manufacture and sell legitimate products. Often, the illicit proceeds resulting from the sale of counterfeit or unlicensed products are funneled back to support a broad range of illegal activities,” he said.
Gibson expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort to combat counterfeiting.
“We are grateful for the hard work that our U.S. CBP officers, HSI special agents, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigators are doing to stop counterfeiting,” said Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson. “Our partnership is designed to help every agency work together to protect consumers and our fans from being misled into counterfeits.”
Beth Heidt, Gibson’s Chief Marketing Officer, described the operation as deeply meaningful to the company.
“This is really emotional and personal for us not only because of the protection of our players but because of our Gibson team at large, including the artisans at our craftories in Nashville, TN, and Bozeman, MT, who are generations of American families that have dedicated their entire lives to handcrafting Gibson instruments,” she said. “As Gibson celebrates its 130th anniversary this year, we are proud of our legacy of quality and craftsmanship.”
CBP officials emphasized that counterfeit goods also support broader criminal enterprises.
“Counterfeit goods fund criminal enterprises that engage in forced labor, smuggling, drug trafficking, and other illicit activities,” said Africa R. Bell, CBP port director at the LA/Long Beach seaport. “Counterfeiters are only interested in making a profit – they do not care about you or your family’s well-being or the well-being of our economy.”
In fiscal year 2023, CBP seized nearly 23 million counterfeit goods nationwide with a value exceeding $2.7 billion.
Shipments from China and Hong Kong accounted for 46% of all counterfeit seizures and 84% of their total value.
