EL PASO, Texas, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Two truckloads of fake Barbie dolls have been intercepted at El Paso, Texas, U.S. Customs officials say.
Border officers at the Ysleta crossing seized 377 cartons with the counterfeit Barbie toys Friday, KVIA, El Paso, reported. The shipment arrived from Mexico Nov. 1 and was held as suspicions.
"The importers paid more than $30,000 for these items. However, the domestic value of this shipment could easily be eight to 10 times that total," said Ana Hinojosa, local director of field operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The agency contacted Mattel and found that the goods were unauthorized and counterfeit. The shipment included regular sized dolls, 28-inch and 32-inch Barbie dolls, styling heads of various sizes, Barbie family play sets, and Barbie mermaids. The domestic value of the items was $24,939.
On Saturday, officers seized another 80 cartons of counterfeit Barbie toys that originally arrived Nov. 18.
That shipment included 32-inch Barbie dolls, and Barbie with furniture and Barbie with accessories sets. The domestic value of these goods was $5,322.
