Licensed customs brokers were among 29 people charged with conspiring to smuggle counterfeit luxury goods into the US, prompting the NCBFAA to issue a statement supporting US Customs and Border Protection efforts to arrest and prosecute individuals who seek to circumvent the customs process and smuggle contraband into the country. The NCBFAA further stated, “The news reports describing the alleged criminal behavior engaged in by the importers, warehousemen, and customs brokers unfairly emphasizes the role of the brokers and casts suspicions on the conduct of our industry.”
Pointing to its continued support for import laws and security, NCBFAA said, “Our critical role and unparalleled record of compliance in preserving the integrity of the import process has been cited time and again by CBP.”
NCBFAA represents nearly 800 member companies with 100,000 employees involved in international trade.
The alleged conspiracy uncovered by CBP involved a reported 950 shipments of luxury goods being funneled through ports in New York, California, Texas, and elsewhere.
