Officials Seize Nearly 15K Nike Knockoffs

They were worth $2.2 million.

This undated photo shows an agent holding one of more than 14,800 pair of counterfeit Nike shoes, seized in a shipment arriving from China at the Los Angeles-Long Beach sports complex.
This undated photo shows an agent holding one of more than 14,800 pair of counterfeit Nike shoes, seized in a shipment arriving from China at the Los Angeles-Long Beach sports complex.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection via AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) β€” Thousands of pairs of Nike knockoffs were seized at the Los Angeles-Long Beach ports complex recently in a shipment arriving from China, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Wednesday (view photos in gallery).

Had the 14,800 pairs of counterfeit Nike special edition and retro design shoes been real, the manufacturer's suggested retail prices would have totaled more than $2.2 million, the agency said.

The shoes were in two containers with contents declared as napkins.

The fakes violated protected designs and trademarks for various versions of Nike's Air Jordan and Air Max shoes.

Customs and Border Protection said collectors might pay between $1,500 and $2,000 for a legitimate pair of the shoes.

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