Can you believe that over 11,000 counterfeit dolls, known as Labubus, were recently seized at Seattle's airport? These adorable toys, which have taken the globe by storm, were part of a shipment falsely labeled as 'LED Bulbs'—talk about a clever cover-up!

On August 26, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Sea Tac Airport made the jaw-dropping discovery, leading to the confiscation of more than $500,000 worth of these popular dolls. The shipment originated from South Korea and was intended to deceive officials. In a cheeky message on social media, CBP exclaimed, 'Fake Labubus are not welcome in America! Thanks for the good catch, Seattle!'

The dolls are not just any toys; they are part of a booming global trend that has seen Labubus, also dubbed 'Lafufus,' skyrocket in popularity since their debut in China in 2015. The company behind them, Pop Mart, reported an astounding revenue of $1.8 billion in 2024 alone. While the retail price for a Labubu hovers around $30, some collectors are willing to pay hundreds—if not thousands—on the resale market!

This shipment was flagged for violating federal import laws, including copyright and trademark regulations. Although no arrests have been made yet, the smugglers behind this operation have incurred a significant financial blow due to the seizure of their counterfeit goods, according to a CBP spokesperson.

In light of this bust, Brian Humphrey, the director of field operations for CBP’s Seattle office, humorously mentioned that they are still searching for the elusive '24K GOLD Labubu,' a prized possession among collectors.

Interestingly, the counterfeit Lafufus are typically made with inferior materials and may lack the unique features of the original Labubus. This bust is particularly timely, coming on the heels of another incident where $7,000 worth of Labubus was stolen from a California store last month. With a market as dynamic as this, the battle against counterfeit goods continues to be both necessary and urgent.