On Friday, November 22, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that they've seized over 3,000 fake Gibson electric guitars in the largest seizure of counterfeit instruments on record. The seized guitars, if authentic, would have had a market value of over $18 million.

According to a press release, CBP is set to hold a press conference on Tuesday, November 26 detailing their "proactive efforts" to "identify, intercept, and seize" future shipments of counterfeit instruments. A warning from both CBP and Gibson will be issued on the basis of consumer protection.

The press release reads:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials in conjunction with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), and Gibson, to announce the largest seizure of Gibson electric guitars on record. A multi-agency operation leads to the interception of over 3,000 counterfeit Gibson electric guitars worth over $18 million if they were genuine.