Customs in Virginia seized 15,000 pairs of knock-off Gucci shoes, with a domestic retail value close to $2 million. This morning, Canal Street no doubt felt a little emptier.
Officials intercepted 472 cartons of kicks that came in from China, meriting a grateful statement from Gucci about the ongoing protection of intellectual property (and, we assume, their profitability) by the Customs and Border Patrol. We don't mean to be biased, but we totally imagine a female official opening a box of fakes and immediately being like, Gucci, Schmoochi!
Interestingly enough, shoes comprise the most frequently seized category of goods for intellectual property violations - 38% of all items and $102.3 million worth in 2008!
