Norfolk customs official Louis Rossero can remember some strange items being seized from ships coming into the city.

Earlier this year, officials nabbed 86 holographic pictures of Bob Marley and the comic book character Joker that violated copyright law. Years ago, officials confiscated counterfeit hoverboard batteries that were catching fire and endangering riders.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have recently seized what Rossero calls another “weird” item to nab ― about $4.5 million worth of counterfeit diabetic socks.

“I don’t remember ever seeing CBP seizing diabetic socks anywhere else,” Customs and Border Protection spokesperson Stephen Sapp said in an email.

Officials confiscated the socks from two shipments, most recently nabbing 165,707 pairs of Hugh Ugoli socks worth more than $2.6 million at retail on July 29. They also seized 118,566 pairs of the same brand worth around $1.9 million on June 21. The sock shipments arrived on vessels from Turkey and were headed to Loudoun County.

The shipments were flagged by customs officials because, after inspection, they violated the Seal of Cotton trademark, which certifies they are made with stringent international manufacturing and safety standards, according to customs agents.

“The logo gets utilized a lot where it’s not supposed to,” Rossero said.

Rossero said the shipments have been turned over to the Department of Homeland Security, which is investigating the incident. No one has been charged as of Thursday, customs officials said.

Diabetic socks have several features meant to protect feet from the effects of diabetes, according to a Walgreens blog post. They keep out moisture, have more cushioning for the foot heel and ball and can contain nonelastic fibers so blood flow isn’t constricted.

If the counterfeit socks got in the hands of consumers, it could potentially damage their health, Mark Laria, area port director for Norfolk-Newport News, said in an announcement.

“Any level of substandard manufacturing, especially of these specialty socks, seriously endangers the health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens who rely on them for comfort and blood circulation,” Laria added.

Rossero encouraged consumers to protect themselves from counterfeiting by purchasing goods from reputable companies and manufacturers.

“If the price is too good to be true, it probably is,” he said.

Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com