‘Operation Short Circuit’ Results in Seizure of Counterfeit Electrical Goods

A three-month operation conducted by 43 countries has resulted in the seizure of more than one million counterfeit electrical goods. During this operation, customs administrations looked for counterfeit power supplies, power adaptors, chargers, surge protectors, extension cords, holiday lights and batteries.

The operation known as “Operation Short Circuit,” took place between July and September 2011. Eighty seizures in the United States resulted in the seizure of:

2,706 boxes of counterfeit holiday lights;

2,015 boxes of counterfeit extension cords;

24,579 counterfeit batteries;

21,979 counterfeit power supplies;

30,863 counterfeit power adapters, and

57,662 counterfeit power chargers.

The estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the items is $5.8 million.

“Counterfeit products threaten the health, safety and security of Americans,” said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton. “Counterfeit electrical articles are particularly troubling, as these illicit products represent a significant threat to public safety as they do not adhere to any standards for testing, quality or operation.”

Worldwide, 43 countries discovered 10,272 shipments. The participating nations detained 1,747 shipments and seized 388 shipments, resulting in the seizure of:

4,760 boxes of counterfeit holiday lights;

359 boxes of counterfeit surge protectors;

3,736 boxes of counterfeit extension cords;

791,936 individual counterfeit batteries;

17,873 boxes of counterfeit batteries;

41,621 counterfeit power supplies;

34,050 counterfeit power adaptors; and

115,231 counterfeit chargers.

Some of the detained shipments are awaiting laboratory test results to determine if they will be seized or released.

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement