ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Atlanta's exclusive tough questions investigation uncovered that the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department handed out more than 18,000 counterfeit smoke detectors.
The tough questions now: how did they get to Atlanta and how many more are in the marketplace?
Reporter Jennifer Mayerle followed the paperwork to a company called Silver Sails out of California and a customs broker who helped the company bring the fakes in.
Jieh Lee is the customs broker career criminals Bob and Judy Silver have been working with for nearly a decade. The Silvers sold the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department more than 18,000 counterfeit smoke detectors.
Mayerle uncovered evidence that the Silvers started importing smoke detectors in May 2004.
"When they import something, it needs to clear customs, so I do paperwork for them," said Lee.
The tough question is how did the counterfeit smoke detectors get into the United States and Atlanta?
Mayerle discovered it starts in China where the counterfeit smoke detectors are manufactured. China is known for producing counterfeit materials. They are sent from Ningbo, China, to the port of Los Angeles. From there, the Silvers send them to customers, including the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, General Services Administration of the federal government and unknown others.
To find out how many counterfeit smoke detectors are out there, Lee let Mayerle have access to his computer.
She dug up documents listing all of the Silvers' smoke detector shipments. They brought in a total of seven shipments from 2004 to 2006. That's more than 50,000 counterfeit smoke detector, and those are the ones we know of.
Records indicate 18,507 went to the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department. As a result of CBS Atlanta's investigation, a recall has been issued to get them out of homes.
About 21,000 were sold to the General Services Administration. Those have been identified. They are currently housed on a military base waiting to be destroyed.
That leaves at least 13,000 more in the marketplace that the Silvers sold. The tough question is where are they and who else is in danger?
Lee says he had no idea the smoke detectors were fake.
"I never see the products. Sometimes they just fax me documents and I just file entries for them, so I know the merchandise from the documents," said Lee.
In fact, Lee said, customs often doesn't examine products being shipped in.
"Sometimes customs may not examine," said Lee.
"May not even look at it?" said Mayerle.
"May not even look at it," said Lee.
"What do you think that some stuff you helped them bring in is fake and could put peoples lives in danger?" said Mayerle.
"Gosh, ohhh," said Lee as he shook his head.
The Silvers still owe Lee $4,000 for goods they've brought in recently. Lee said he won't do business with the Silvers again.
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