Federal authorities have seized over 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars valued at a combined $18.7 million in what officials are calling the largest-ever bust of fake musical instruments.
The phony guitars, which mimic the typically American-made Gibson brand, were shipped from Asia and intercepted by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Los Angeles, along with assistance from other agencies.
Gibson confirmed the guitars were counterfeit, emphasizing that genuine Gibson instruments are manufactured exclusively in the United States. Had the fake guitars been sold as authentic, they could have fetched a total of $18,742,820, according to CBP.
“This is the largest seizure of counterfeit musical instruments on record,” CBP officials stated.
Cheryl M. Davies, director of CBP’s field operations in Los Angeles, warned consumers to remain cautious, particularly during the holiday shopping season. “These fraudulent guitars may appear legitimate to unsuspecting buyers purchasing from third-party online sources, street markets, unauthorized retailers, or person-to-person transactions,” Davies said. “If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
Beth Heidt, Gibson’s chief marketing officer, described the situation as deeply personal for the 130-year-old company. “This is really emotional for us—not just because of protecting our players, but also for our Gibson team, including the artisans in our Nashville, TN, and Bozeman, MT, craftories. These are generations of American families who have dedicated their lives to handcrafting Gibson instruments,” Heidt said.
The counterfeit instruments, if not intercepted, could have deceived buyers and harmed Gibson’s reputation, making this bust a significant win for both the company and the music community.
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