Counterfeit condoms uncovered in $150K Houston bust, records show

In Houston, Texas, court records reveal that the Houston Police Department has apprehended two individuals, Ali Zeeshan and Dhanju Shehbah, on allegations of distributing counterfeit condoms and lighters valued at over $150,000.

Both Zeeshan and Shehbah, who have since been released on bond, face felony charges of trademark counterfeiting.

In a separate incident in 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted more than 40,000 counterfeit condoms imported from China into Puerto Rico.

Barbara Stewart, a professor at the University of Houston, suggests that the market for counterfeit goods is increasingly profitable, with counterfeiters producing convincing labels and packaging that may deceive unsuspecting consumers.

Data from CBP indicates that the agency seized over $2.4 billion in counterfeit merchandise during the last fiscal year.

Stewart highlights the detrimental impact of counterfeiting on both consumers and legitimate companies, noting that criminals exploit genuine products by offering cheaper but inferior alternatives to consumers.

Counterfeit condoms, for example, pose serious health risks, including the potential for sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies, according to health experts.