SAN JUAN: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Field Operations Officers seized Monday 41 hoverboards with counterfeit and potentially dangerous batteries.
CBP officers inspected a shipment and discovered hoverboards containing batteries, manufactured in China and displaying the “Samsung” trademark. CBP officers determined that the mark was counterfeit. The seized hoverboard shipment was valued at more than $16,000.
“Counterfeit and pirated products threaten our economic security and undermine legitimate businesses that invest significant resources into manufacturing safe, qualThe seized Hoverboards had fake Samsung batteries insideity products. Even worse, these products often pose serious health and safety hazards to the people who buy and use them,” said Edward Ryan, Assistant Director of Trade for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “Enforcing product safety laws and protecting intellectual property rights are top priorities for CBP.”
Hoverboards—self-balancing, two-wheeled, motorized platforms—are one of this year’s most popular items. However, major safety concerns have surfaced following reports of fires possibly caused by substandard and counterfeit batteries within some hoverboards.
The swell of counterfeit hoverboards arriving at U.S. ports continue to be a concern for CBP. Nationally, more than 50,000 potentially unsafe boards, with an estimated value approaching $20 million, have been seized.
