Anthony Yates
Labubu toys are a viral craze and have become a hit among adult collectors. The demand for Labubu has also made them an attractive target for thieves and scammers, and US Customs recently seized a large haul of counterfeits on its way to the US.
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What happened: According to a report by NBC News, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers uncovered 11,134 fake Labubu dolls in a shipment passing through Seattle Airport. Fake Labubu are becoming so prevalent that they even go by the name “Lafufu.”
- The outlet explained that the shipment came from South Korea in a package labelled “LED Bulb.” A CBP spokesperson reportedly said that they seized the toys on August 26. If the Labubu were genuine, they would have a retail value of $513,937.76.
CBP Director of Field Operations Brian Humphrey tweeted about the shipment on X.
“P.S., we’re still on the lookout for the one and only 24K GOLD Labubu,” he joked.
CBP Reveals What They Plan To Do With The Fake Labubu Toys
Not adding to the Lafufu market: There are already communities online that search for the ugliest, most crudely made fake Labubu they can find. However, the recently seized toys will not be joining that market.
- Per Komo News, CBP officials have confirmed that the counterfeit Labubu toys will be destroyed. It’s a standard procedure for seized items of any kind.
An attractive target for thieves: The collectable toys by the Chinese company Pop Mart have already become attractive targets for thieves, who will even break into shops to get them. Last month, burglars broke into a toy store in La Puente, California, per Minq. One Stop Sales has an online presence, but its physical shop is at 659 Glendora Avenue.
- The store shared heartbreaking footage of thieves entering the building, smashing up the place, and leaving with $10,000 worth of Labubu toys. They posted CCTV footage to social media with the caption, “Please help us get justice. This is not fair!”
- Fortunately for One Stop Sales, the City of Chino Police Department detailed a raid on a warehouse on Facebook. They explained that they recovered over $30,000 worth of stolen Labubu and were returning them to their rightful owners. The shop posted an update, revealing that authorities recovered at least some of their stock.
