Counterfeit postal stamps worth nearly $150,000 were confiscated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigators in Birmingham.

The seizure, authorities said, stopped 200,000 fake Forever Stamps from Hong Kong from entering postal circulation.

During an operation at the Birmingham – Jefferson County Port Authority, or Birmingport, officers chose two packages for inspection based on specific criteria.

Birmingport is a river and rail connection linking the city to the Port of Mobile and Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

Initially, authorities said, the packages’ contents looked authentic but further examination revealed the stamps inside were deemed counterfeit and in violation of multiple Intellectual Property Right (IPR) laws.

The stamps were valued at about $146,000.

CBP officers are highly trained to detect and identify IPR violations to protect the American public. Counterfeit goods harm consumers, retailers, trademark holders, and the U.S. economy.

Birmingham Port Director Steve Robinson said CBP officers, agriculture specialists and support staff play a vital role safeguarding consumers and businesses from counterfeit goods, Robinson said.

“Economic security is national security,” Robinson said.

China and Hong Kong accounted for approximately 90% of the total CBP IPR seizures in 2024.

CBP, authorities said, works with Homeland Security Investigations agents and U.S. Postal Inspectors to halt attempts to unlawfully import counterfeit U.S. Forever Stamps.