California-based Perfectus Aluminum and five of its associated companies reached a civil settlement with the DOJ (Civil Settlement), in which the aluminum importer agreed to pay $549.5 million for customs duty evasion, the largest customs award in False Claims Act history. The Civil Settlement is a harbinger of increased customs enforcement to come as President Trump’s second administration continues to push its America First Trade Policy and tariffs. This article lays out the background of the case and what it means for future enforcement, and offers compliance lessons for import programs. See “How to Prepare for an Increase in Customs Whistleblowers” (Mar. 11, 2026).