Counterfeit Sneakers Worth $1 Million USD Seized and Destroyed in Philippines

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the Philippines has just taken an aggressive stance against the counterfeit sneaker game in its country by destroying more than 150,000 pairs of fake kicks. The batch included imitations of brands such as Nike, adidas and Converse, and was valued at PH50M, or $1 million USD. According to Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla, the goods were smuggled in from China early last year, and were discovered as being fraudulent when the owner failed to produce proof of payment of duties and taxes. While the Philippines has become known for its counterfeit goods market, Sevilla promised that the BOC would continue to fight to protect the manufacturers and distributors of genuine brands, and urged the public not to buy counterfeit.