Border patrol agents in International Falls seized more than 60,000 counterfeit mermaid dolls in late June. 

A news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations says officers working at the Port of Entry in International Falls targeted a railroad container and upon inspection found 60,180 mermaid and fashion dolls, all of them infringing on copyright laws. 

The estimated retail value of the dolls is $601,198. 

Anthony Jackson, the International Falls port director, said agents have focused on identifying and intercepting counterfeit products for two reasons. 

"Counterfeiting adversely affects the ability of lawful copyright holders to profit from their original ideas," said Jackson. "Counterfeiting also harms consumers because manufacturers of forged products have little motivation to use safe, high-quality materials in their products.”

CBP says "unscrupulous" companies have generated billions in profits by selling counterfeit items.