U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Norfolk, Va., seized 543 automotive radiators Oct. 6 that had been brought in from China using a victim’s stolen identity, CBP said in an Oct. 20 release. The shipment was appraised at $120,296 and was addressed to a location in Los Angeles, according to the agency.
This radiator seizure is not Norfolk officers’ first encounter with automotive radiators brought in through fraudulent imports, CBP said.
For collision repairers buying replacement parts, Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council President Bob Stewart previously advised relying on reputable suppliers such as dealership parts centers or wholesale sellers instead of e-commerce sites, where most counterfeit parts seized in recent years were sourced.
How the identity scheme works
Those behind this kind of fraud take over the identities of real people or businesses and form shell companies to bring commercial cargo into the country unlawfully, either to sidestep tariffs or to slip contraband through, CBP said.
“Customs and Border Protection officers remain committed to combatting transnational criminal organizations by detecting and seizing these high-risk and fraudulent shipments and depriving these bad actors of any illicit revenue,” said Keri Brady, area port director for the CBP Area Port of Norfolk-Newport News. “Enforcing our nation’s laws is critical to protecting American consumers, ensuring U.S. businesses and workers can operate fairly in global trade, and safeguarding our nation’s economic security.”
Radiator seizures at the port since August
On Aug. 25, Norfolk officers seized 1,043 automotive radiators bound for Cheyenne, Wyo., that had been declared at $5,775. Trade specialists at CBP’s Center of Excellence and Expertise valued that shipment at $110,176.
Three more shipments totaling 1,818 radiators followed with seizures on Sept. 15, Sept. 18, and Sept. 22. Those radiators carried the Reach and CarQuest names, were valued at $206,513, and were headed to Los Angeles; Tempe, Ariz.; and Loveland, Colo. In those cases, the people listed as importers of record told CBP they had not ordered the goods and did not operate import businesses.
The October release did not name a brand on the radiators or identify the importer of record.
Across the late-August, September, and October cases, CBP has seized 3,404 radiators valued at $436,985, based on figures in the three CBP releases.
Earlier in the year, Norfolk officers seized automotive struts and shock absorbers appraised at $169,489 on June 23, according to CBP, in a case built on fraudulent import documentation.
Counterfeit warning signs
Nationally, CBP seized more than 211,000 counterfeit auto parts in fiscal year 2024, nearly double the prior fiscal year’s total, according to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.
CBP said poor quality often gives counterfeit goods away, pointing to labels that peel, sloppy ink or misprints on packaging, and items packed loosely in the box. The agency recommends buying from the trademark holder or its authorized retailers. Suspected counterfeits can be reported through CBP’s e-Allegations portal or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT, the agency said.
Lisa McArdle