U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Partners Seize Over $18M in Fake Gibson Guitars

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and import specialists assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, in conjunction with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) investigators, and Gibson officials, have announced the seizure of more than 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) — had they been genuine — of $18,742,820.

CBP officers in coordination with HSI special agents and LASD investigators intercepted the suspected cargo arriving in ocean containers from Asia. CBP’s Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Center of Excellence (CPMM) assisted in estimating the MSRP of the shipment. Gibson confirmed that the guitars intercepted were in fact counterfeit, noting that legitimate Gibson guitars are only made in the U.S.

“These fraudulent guitars may look and feel legitimate for unsuspecting consumers buying them from third party online sources, street markets, unauthorized retailers, and person-to-person transactions,” said Cheryl M. Davies, CBP director of field operations in Los Angeles. “As we approach the busy holiday shopping season, consumers should pay attention to where they are buying these goods and how much they are paying, and if is too good to be true it probably is.”

“We are grateful for the hard work that our U.S. CBP officers, HSI special agents and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigators are doing to stop counterfeiting,” said Cesar Gueikian, Gibson’s CEO. “Our partnership is designed to help every agency work together to protect consumers and our fans from being misled into counterfeits. Today’s announcement gives us hope that we are on the right track, working together as partners. To our music lovers and customers, no matter which American brand you decide buy, always buy direct from the source, or from authorized dealers. Our pledge is to protect the consumer and give them the tools to make the journey of playing guitar and making music the most amazing experience.”

“This is really emotional and personal for us not only because of the protection of our players, but because of our Gibson team at large, including the artisans at our ‘craftories’ in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bozeman, Montana, who are generations of American families that have dedicated their entire lives to handcrafting Gibson instruments,” said Beth Heidt, Gibson’s chief marketing officer. “As Gibson celebrates its 130th anniversary this year, we are proud of our legacy of quality and craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships with our artists, and our efforts to promote and create more musicians that continue to shape the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across every genre.”

All Gibson instruments are handcrafted in the U.S. at its ‘craftories; in Nashville and in Bozeman. Safeguarding Gibson’s legacy and generations of craftsmanship is essential to preserving the value, authenticity, and unique sound that Gibson guitars are known for worldwide. These brand protection efforts also protect customers from the scam of counterfeit instruments, ensuring musicians can trust in the excellence and heritage that only a genuine Gibson can offer. Consumers are encouraged to avoid unauthorized sellers, as counterfeit instruments not only lack Gibson’s quality, and safety standards, but are also ineligible for warranty protections. This seizure underscores the importance of purchasing Gibson guitars exclusively from Gibson.com and/or Gibson’s many authorized dealers worldwide, ensuring buyers receive our genuine instruments backed by Gibson’s 130-year legacy and quality guarantee.

“Intellectual property theft is not a victimless crime. Victims are American consumers, businesses, trademark holders and people who manufacture and sell legitimate products,” said said John Pasciucco, the HSI Los Angeles deputy special agent in charge. “Often, the illicit proceeds resulting from the sale of counterfeit or unlicensed products are funneled back to support a broad range of illegal activities.”

gibson.com