Recently, federal agencies in NJ indicted 29 people as part of a scheme to import $325 million dollars in counterfeit luxury goods including scarves, shirts, sweatshirts, designer handbags, boots and sneakers.

Items that are common targets for counterfeiters include: artwork, autographed items and other memorabilia, cosmetics, perfumes, computer software, designer clothing, jewelry, music, videos, and sporting goods.

In the US, Customs and Border Protection seized counterfeit electronics and parts worth $104.4m.

In 2012 the US, Customs and Border Protection seized $511.2m in counterfeit handbags/wallets.

In 2012 the US, Customs and Border Protection seized $187m in counterfeit watches and jewelry.

In 2012 the US, Customs and Border Protection seized $133m in counterfeit apparel/accessories.

Auto parts including brakes, airplane parts and even parts for spacecraft have been counterfeited.

US Chamber of Commerce estimates the value of pirated consumer goods at $650 billion a year.

The FAA has estimated that more than 520,000 counterfeit parts are installed on planes each year.

Gangs are using the profits from the sale of counterfeit goods to finance drug trafficking, prostitution and terrorism.

Neighborhoods suffer the consequences of the counterfeit trade which include increased gang activity, lost jobs, and more gang warfare.

President Obama recently listed intellectual property crime and cybercrime (theft that occurs via the internet) as crimes that can “only erode U.S. competitiveness, but also endanger the public health and safety.”