Photo Credit: U.S. Customs & Border Protection
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officers have announced the seizure of over $18 million in counterfeit Gibson guitars. This is the largest counterfeit musical instrument seizure in CBP history.
CBP officers worked in coordination with HSI special agents and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to intercept the suspected counterfeit cargo arriving in ocean containers from Asia. Gibson confirmed that the seized guitars were in fact counterfeit and notes that legitimate Gibson guitars are only made in the United States of America.
“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,” says 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.”
“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,” adds 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 buying counterfeits.”
“Today’s announcement gives us hope that we are on the right track, working together as partners. To our music lovers and customers, no matter which American brand you decide to buy, always buy direct from the source or from authorized dealers. Our pledge is to protect the consumer and give them the tools to make the journey of playing guitar and making music the most amazing experience,” Gueikian continues.
Gibson is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year, building iconic guitars for Americans that meet the highest standards of quality and craftmanship. All Gibson instruments are handcrafted in the United States—either in Nashville, Tennessee or Bozeman, Montana.