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A shipment of counterfeit Labubu dolls, which would be valued at over half a million dollars if authentic, was intercepted at Seattle’s airport last week, according to authorities.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, tasked with inspecting air cargo at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, confiscated 11,134 dolls that had an estimated retail value of $513,937.76, a CBP spokesperson reported on Tuesday.
The dolls were confiscated on Aug. 26 after officers discovered that the shipment breached federal laws against illegal imports and exploitation of intellectual property, the spokesperson mentioned in a statement.
The shipment was falsely labeled as “LED Bulb” and originated in South Korea, the spokesperson said.
According to the CBP spokesperson, the intercepted dolls in Seattle are set to be destroyed. While no arrests have been made, they haven’t been discounted, the spokesperson added.
Counterfeit Labubus, often referred to as “Lafufus,” come with risks, a London community council warned this month. They noted that poor construction might lead to choking hazards if parts detach, and the materials could contain “harmful chemicals.”
The authentic dolls are produced under the Pop Mart brand, forming part of a character series, “The Monsters,” which was first introduced in a 2015 picture book trilogy influenced by Nordic mythology.
The characters and the story are the brainchild of Hong Kong artist and author Kasing Lung. By 2019, toy giant Pop Mart turned them into viral vinyl collectibles, in part by selling them in “blind box” packages that don’t reveal the version of Labubu within until they are opened.
Labubu, a girl, made an appearance this month at the U.S. Open in New York City, where two-time champion Naomi Osaka showed off custom versions that included “Billie Jean Bling,” made to look like pioneering champion Billie Jean King, and other tennis legends.
In the city of La Puente, California, this month, the owners of a store called One Stop Sales said burglars stole its inventory of Labubu dolls.
A 2020 report by the Library of Congress’ Federal Research Division estimated that counterfeit goods are worth more than the illicit drug trade in the United States. “Counterfeiting is the largest criminal enterprise in the world,” it said.
The division estimated 80% of counterfeit goods in the country come from China.
Precious metal is sometimes used to help separate fakes from collectibles when it comes to other goods, such as Swiss watches. Some Labubu fans are obsessing over the possibility that a 24-karat gold version may exist, though that’s unclear.
Pop Mart did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Brian Humphrey, CBP’s Seattle operations director, praised his officers on X for finding the fake Labubus and said the agency will remain diligent.
“Excellent work by our diligent and meticulous CBPOs!” he said. “P.S. we’re still on the lookout for the one and only 24K GOLD Labubu.”
