Authorities Seize $18M in Counterfeit Gibson Guitars in Record Bust
Authorities in Los Angeles seized 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars valued at $18 million, marking the largest counterfeit musical instrument seizure on record. The operation involved U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The guitars were intended for online sale, where buyers might not verify their authenticity. Gibson representatives noted the fakes were not convincing to knowledgeable players. No suspects have been identified in the case.