U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have made a significant seizure of counterfeit state vehicle inspection stickers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The seized stickers, valued at over a million dollars, were discovered by CBP officers during routine inspections.
According to authorities, a shipment of 22,000 counterfeit Pennsylvania vehicle inspection stickers, which originated from Israel and was destined for an address in Philadelphia, has been intercepted. If these stickers were genuine, they would have been valued at $1,404,700.
During routine inspections, CBP officers came across counterfeit inspection stickers in two different shipments.
In one shipment received on November 26th, a total of 10,000 inspection stickers were discovered. Another shipment that arrived on December 9th contained 12,000 inspection stickers. Upon inspection, CBP officers suspected that these stickers were fraudulent and subsequently detained both shipments.
On December 16th, Pennsylvania authorities seized the counterfeit stickers.
Motor vehicles must undergo an annual inspection as mandated by state law to ensure they meet the minimum standards for mechanical performance, safety, and emissions.
According to authorities, individuals who are aware that their vehicle needs expensive repairs to pass inspection may choose to buy a fake inspection sticker at a discounted price.
Drivers who are caught with counterfeit stickers could potentially face a penalty of up to $500 and even jail time.
Currently, authorities have reported that there have been no arrests made in relation to this case.