During May 2006, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),the largest investigative arm of the U.S.Department of Homeland Security (DHS), intercepted and seized over 200 containers of smuggled wearing
apparel shipped from China which was falsely described as furniture or other products not subject to textile quota restraints or high import duty rates.
ICE is investigating individuals and companies for criminal prosecution and will likely forfeit significant quantities of the seized Chinese apparel. The smuggled merchandise was to be sold on landed duty paid (LDP) terms to U.S. buyers. ICE is criminally investigating individuals and companies involved in the schemes and has seized significant quantities of Chinese
apparel which were illegally entered into the United States. According to Brian Murphy, an attorney with Stein Shostak Shostak Pollack & OHara, a Los Angeles-based law firm specializing in customs law issues, both ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are on continued watch for mis-described merchandise which can also result in stiff criminal and civil penalties and seizures. The law firm now with a representative office in Shanghai represents many exporters, trading companies and U.S. importers in connection with the ongoing Customs investigation.
