On August 17, Mexico’s Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI), the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM), and other authorities carried out an enforcement operation at a customs-supervised facility at the Port of Manzanillo. A total of 22,950 gaming-related products from China were seized, including SONY-related game controllers and PlayStation-related products. The case remains under investigation.

Key Highlights 

• Products seized: More than 22,000 Chinese products were seized at Mexico’s Port of Manzanillo. 

• Two shipments: The shipments contained 7,650 SONY-related controllers and 15,300 PlayStation-related products. 

• Joint investigation: IMPI, Mexican customs authorities, and prosecutors are jointly investigating the case. 

• Goods transferred: The products have been transferred to a warehouse in Mexico City for storage.

More Than 22,000 Products Seized at the Port

According to information released by IMPI, the operation took place at CONTECON’s customs-supervised facility in Manzanillo, Colima. Officers seized two shipments. The first contained 7,650 SONY-related game controllers, which authorities said involved a certain degree of trademark confusion.

The second shipment contained 15,300 PlayStation-related products. Authorities explicitly stated that both shipments originated in China. The PlayStation-related products were preliminarily valued at approximately MXN 2.295 million. The two shipments contained a combined total of 22,950 items. It is important to note that IMPI did not broadly classify the products as counterfeit or imitation goods. Instead, it used language relating to trademark confusion and intellectual property issues.

Intellectual Property Inspections Extend to Port Supervision

The operation involved more than a routine customs inspection. According to IMPI, the Institute, the National Customs Agency of Mexico, and the Attorney General’s Office participated in the operation. The products have been transferred to an IMPI warehouse in Mexico City for storage, and further proceedings remain underway.

The case shows that after goods arrive at a Mexican port, they may be subject not only to routine customs clearance reviews but also to further inspections by intellectual property authorities. For branded products such as consumer electronics and gaming equipment, brand authorization, trademark use, and proof of product origin may all come under scrutiny at the destination port.

Intellectual Property Compliance Cannot Be Overlooked After Goods Arrive at the Port of Manzanillo

For Chinese exporters and freight forwarders handling Mexico-bound shipments, the case highlights how intellectual property issues can directly affect cargo movement at the destination port. Once goods are seized, the impact may extend beyond customs clearance delays to storage, demurrage and detention, return shipments, and subsequent investigations.

For Mexico-bound shipments involving branded goods, companies should verify brand authorization, trademark use, and proof of product origin before shipment, in addition to checking standard documentation such as product descriptions, tariff classifications, declared values, and country of origin. Companies should also ensure that the actual goods match the declared information.

The Port of Manzanillo is a major container port in Mexico and an important logistics hub for trade between Asia and Mexico. As this case occurred at a customs-supervised port facility, it also shows that for branded goods, arrival at the destination port does not mark the end of the logistics process. Subsequent regulatory action may still affect cargo delivery.

Sources and Disclaimer 

Sources include publicly available media reports and industry information. This article is provided solely for industry reference. Specific information remains subject to the latest disclosures from official and authoritative sources.