The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued Monday its December 2021 operational statistics update, which offers a comprehensive view of agency initiatives.
“The dedicated men and women at CBP are committed to ensuring dangerous drugs and counterfeit products are off the streets, our communities are kept safe, and our borders are secured,” CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus said. “Equally important to our mission is facilitating lawful trade and travel that is critical to the sustained growth of the U.S. economy. In December, CBP collected more than $9 billion in estimated duties and also saw a dramatic increase in the confiscation of fake products. In one port of entry alone, CBP officers reported the seizure of more than $30 million of counterfeit goods last month.”
Per Magnus, $3.31 billion worth of counterfeit goods were seized in FY21, representing a 153 percent increase from FY20, while heroin seizures rose by 113 percent in December.
“These seizures demonstrate that our intelligence and operational abilities are disrupting criminal enterprises and safeguarding legitimate commerce,” he said. “We will continue to strengthen these capabilities and meet these challenges and future ones with the same determination and resolve.”
Other areas covered by the operational update include southwest border enforcement numbers for December 2021, details regarding Government of Mexico collaboration, international travel and trade, accountability and transparency, trade statistics/seizures and drug seizures, agriculture statistics/seizures, and CBP COVID-19 response.