Fake Lovebu Dolls Seized in Seattle
Recent reports indicate that U.S. customs officers have intercepted over $500,000 worth of counterfeit Lovebu dolls at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials discovered 11,134 imitation dolls during a cargo inspection. The estimated retail value of these seized products amounts to $513,937.76, according to a CBP spokesperson.
The dolls, identified as “Roughfass,” were taken last Monday from a shipment mislabelled as “LED bulbs” coming from South Korea.
Officials have stated that these dolls violate federal laws against illegal imports, particularly those that infringe upon intellectual property. As a result, they’ve announced intentions to destroy these fake products.
So far, no arrests have been made in connection with this incident.
“Great job to our diligent and effective CBP officers! By the way, we are also monitoring a 24K Gold Lovebu,” said Brian Humphrey, Director of Field Operations at CBP Seattle Field Office.
Humphrey further expressed, “Fake Lovebus are not welcome in America. Good job on the seizure in Seattle!”
Interestingly, counterfeit dolls often display an incorrect number of overly bright colors and additional teeth. The genuine Lovebu, produced by Chinese company Pop Mart, features only nine teeth.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission had previously warned that imitation dolls could pose significant risks, including potential suffocation hazards for young children.
Some buyers have reported that the heads of these fake dolls can detach easily.
Authentic Lovebu dolls typically come with holographic Pop Mart stickers, and some of the newer ones include subtle UV stamps on one foot.
Due to their popularity, these dolls sell out fast globally.
Originally priced around $40, some of these dolls can fetch hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, on resale platforms like eBay, often being marketed to enthusiastic fans under dubious claims.
Since the surge in demand for these dolls, incidents of theft have also risen. In California, authorities earlier reported recovering 14 boxes of highly sought-after Lovebu dolls worth around $30,000, stolen from a warehouse.
A CBP spokesperson did not provide further comments at the time of the announcement.
