Customs and Border Protection officers recently seized more than 11,000 counterfeit Labubu dolls valued at approximately $513,000 from Sea-Tac airport.
As the hairy, ugly-cute figures have become increasingly popular, so have their counterfeit cousins, referred to by many as “Lafufus.” The high demand and exclusivity associated with the authentic dolls has paved the way for counterfeiters to turn a profit.
CBP officials posted photos of boxes filled with the counterfeit dolls. According to a CBP spokesperson, the shipment came from South Korea and was falsely labeled as LED lights. The dolls will be destroyed, the spokesperson said.
Manufactured by the Chinese collectible toy company Pop Mart, these creatures aren’t your typical doll — they’re a global phenomenon, akin to the likes of Beanie Babies or Troll Dolls in the late 20th century. Labubus, the creation of Hong-Kong born artist Kasing Lung, are fuzzy elves with large eyes, pointed ears, and a sharp-toothed, mischievous smile. The plushies, which are expressly made for people ages 15-plus, come in various colors, sizes, and figurine series.
A global frenzy ignited after celebrities including David Beckham, Rihanna, and Lisa from the K-pop group Blackpink showed their Labubus off online. Young adults have turned them into fashion items as they clip the dolls onto their high-end bags and belts. Fans can also buy outfits and trinkets to customize the plushies.
The most popular lines of Labubus come in so-called “blind boxes” meaning customers don’t know the doll’s color until they open the package. The mystery aspect also draws in fans, giving them a 1 in 6 chance of scoring their preferred “standard” Labubu. Customers also have a 1 in 72 chance of unboxing a more rare Labubu figurine, known as a “secret.”
One blind box retails for $27.99. But they can be hard to obtain directly from Pop Mart, often selling out on the company’s app within seconds. That’s created an expensive resale market through which some fans are willing to shell out hundreds or more. In June, a human-sized Labubu doll was sold at a Chinese auction for more than $150,000.
Meanwhile, for some fans, “Lafufus” have become a sensation in their own right. Though some buyers may unwittingly purchase the counterfeit dolls, many have purchased them intentionally for laughs. One forum on Reddit is explicitly devoted to Lafufu appreciation.