Earlier this morning, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) tweeted that it had seized 2,000 counterfeit Apple AirPods worth nearly $400,000 USD at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
However, the twist in the tale was that these were legitimate buds from OnePlus. Weird thing is that in a picture tweeted by CBP, OnePlus‘ branding is clearly visible, and no one seems to know about the company.
US Customs and Border Protection this weekend proudly tweeted about the seizure of the ear buds. “That’s not an 🍎,” the agency wrote yesterday, sharing two pictures and linking to a press release.
THAT’S NOT AN 🍎 —
CBP officers at JFK Airport recently seized 2,000 counterfeit Apple AirPods from Hong Kong, valued at $398K had they been genuine.
Details via @CBPNewYorkCity: https://t.co/XMgjkfT56i pic.twitter.com/Ofn9REJ9ZB
— CBP (@CBP) September 14, 2020
“CBP officers seized 2,000 counterfeit Apple Airpod Earbuds from Hong Kong destined for Nevada at an air cargo facility,” the agency wrote in the press release, dated Friday. “If the merchandise were genuine, the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) would have been $398,000.”
Despite the resemblance to Apple’s AirPods, however, the box clearly indicates that these are OnePlus Buds. And they’re priced at $80 USD apiece, so the correct value of the shipment is more like $160,000 and not $398,000.
The CBP said the seizure is an example of how it is “protecting the American public from various dangers on a daily basis.” However, this instead seems to be a head-scratching error, as OnePlus is by now a well-known brand that has been selling smartphones and other products in the US for years.
“The interception of these counterfeit earbuds is a direct reflection of the vigilance and commitment to mission success by our CBP Officers daily,” said Troy Miller, director of CBP’s New York Field Operations.
