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Thousands Of Counterfeit Handbags, Shoes Seized

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Aug 19, 2008 5:45 pm US/Pacific

Thousands Of Counterfeit Handbags, Shoes Seized

LONG BEACH, Calif.

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Thousands of counterfeit shoes and handbags were seized from containers originating from China and bound for Los Angeles Port. (file photo)
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Federal authorities say they've seized thousands of counterfeit handbags and shoes at the Port of Los Angeles.

A half-dozen containers shipped from China were stopped Monday by officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, border patrol spokeswoman Cristina Gamez said.

The containers held 28,784 pairs of fake Nike shoes and 78,460 phony handbags bearing various trademarks, worth an approximate $1.9 million, Gamez said. The value would have increased to more than $32 million if the items were legitimate.

The six containers had been earmarked for inspection prior to their arrival, said Kevin Weeks, director of the Los Angeles Office of Field Operations.

Officials declined to release the names of the company or individuals who sent the containers or the names of the intended recipients.

"Our investigation is continuing, so I can't give you those names," Gamez said. "I can tell you that three of the containers were headed for Los Angeles County and three for Orange County. But that's all the information we are releasing at this time."