Fake Nike shoes: Feds seize $2.2 million worth of counterfeit retro Nike shoes at Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach

Thousands of counterfeit Nike shoes, worth an estimated $2.2 million, have been seized at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport, federal officials said Wednesday. CBS Los Angeles said authorities found 14,806 pairs of shoes in a shipment from China. Customs and Border Protection officials say they were mislabeled as “towels” in a bid to conceal the illicit cargo.

Import specialists and Nike officials have confirmed that the shoes are in violation of the Air Jordan 1 Off-White Air, Air Jordan 12, Air Jordan 1, Air Jordan 11 and Air Max 97.

These special editions and retro styles are highly coveted by collectors and dealers. A legit pair can resell for $1,500 to $2,000 online.

Such a shipment of authentic shoes would be worth more than $2.2 million.

“Counterfeit designer shoes are a multi-million dollar criminal industry. Trafficking in these items is extremely lucrative and is becoming more profitable in markets involving successful and popular products,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, Port Director of LA Customs and Border Protection. /Long Beach Seaport, said in a statement.

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