Officers say they're seeing a surge of counterfeits entering the U.S., including everything from designer dupes and downright dangerous toys to fake contacts and prescription medication.
Raymond Bell can't go anywhere without spotting designer dupes, fake electronics, or other counterfeit goods.
"It almost becomes a negative thing," Bell, a supervisory officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said. "When you're around somebody you like or something and you don't want to tell them, 'Hey, that's fake.'" 13 Investigates got rare access to Bell and his team of CBP agents as they scanned and searched incoming shipments at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and the Port of Houston for counterfeit goods.
"Nowadays you can mask anything to be something else. They can easily create a chocolate bar that looks like chocolate, but it could be cocaine, it could be fentanyl, it could be anything, so our job is just to verify that it is what it's supposed to be," CBP Officer and Acting Chief Yuri Collins said.
13 Investigates the counterfeits CBP found coming into Houston, Sunday after the Oscars and Abbott Elementary on ABC13.Have a tip? A problem to solve? Send a tip below. If you don't have a photo or document to include, just hit 'skip upload' and send the details.'Live with Kelly and Mark: After the Oscars' preview
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