US Customs said they seized 2,000 'counterfeit Apple AirPods' entering the US — but posted photos showing OnePlus Buds, an Apple competitor
by Aaron Holmes
- Customs and Border Protection boasted that it intercepted 2,000 ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ entering the US from Hong Kong in an announcement posted Sunday night.
- But the photos CBP included in its announcement don’t show counterfeit AirPods — instead, they show OnePlus Buds, wireless headphones made by an Apple competitor.
- “Hey, give those back,” OnePlus tweeted in response to CBP’s post.
- People were quick to point out CBP’s apparent blunder on social media, but the agency hasn’t amended its announcement. CBP and OnePlus didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
US Customs and Border Protection took to Twitter Sunday night to announce a recent bust: The agency said it had intercepted “2,000 counterfeit Apple AirPods from Hong Kong, valued at $398K had they been genuine.”
“The interception of these counterfeit earbuds is a direct reflection of the vigilance and commitment to mission success by our CBP Officers daily,” CBP’s director of New York field operations Troy Miller said in the press release announcing the seizure.
But CBP also posted two images that appeared to immediately contradict its announcement — the photos didn’t show AirPods, but rather OnePlus Buds, wireless headphones made by an Apple competitor.
People on Twitter were quick to point out CBP’s apparent blunder, including OnePlus’ own account, which replied asking the agency to “give those back.” However, CBP did not amend its announcement, which remains unchanged as of Monday morning.
Business Insider reached out to both CBP and OnePlus for comment, neither of which immediately responded.
In its announcement, CBP said that the 2,000 “counterfeit Apple AirPod earbuds” were seized at an air cargo facility in New York City en route from Hong Kong to Nevada. CBP estimated that the retail price for the AirPods would have been $398,000 “if the merchandise were genuine.” But as The Verge points out, 2,000 units of OnePlus Buds for $79 each would total just $158,000.
CBP claimed that the goods violated Apple’s intellectual property rights, but Apple has not lodged any such complaints against OnePlus. An Apple spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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