Counterfeit Hover Boards Seized at Minnesota Border

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. (AP) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say they have seized nearly $650,000 in counterfeit merchandise, including hundreds of hover board scooters, at the Minnesota-Canadian border.

The agency says field operations officers working at the International Falls port of entry recently targeted a rail container destined for nearby Rainier. The officers inspected the container and found illegal merchandise.

The agency says it seized 1,650 Smart Balance hover board scooters and 90 computer motherboards with Bluetooth counterfeit trademark violations. Authorities say the merchandise is worth about $645,000.

Customs officials say the flow of illicit goods into the U.S. can damage the economy and threaten safety.