‘Tis the season for counterfeit goods, as holiday shopping reaches its peak. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Louisville have come to the rescue of unsuspecting customers. In a recent operation, they managed to seize a staggering $18 million worth of counterfeit designer jewelry and watches. Thanks to their efforts, potential victims were saved from being ripped off.
Two shipments from Hong Kong and China arrived in the United States on December 17 and 18. The shipments were headed to residences in Arizona, Virginia, Florida, and New York. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the shipments contained a total of 962 counterfeit designer watches, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. The Customs and Border Protection’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise, who are trade experts, confirmed that all the items were knock-offs and seized them.
CBP officers discovered a total of 459 counterfeit bracelets featuring the logos of luxury brands such as Cartier, Chanel, Fendi, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Van Cleef and Arpels. In addition, they found 43 pairs of earrings with logos from Van Cleef and Arpels and Cartier, 20 necklaces displaying the Van Cleef and Arpels logo, and 440 watches bearing the Rolex logo. It was determined that none of these items were genuine.
The watches, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, if they were genuine, would have had a collective manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $18.81 million. Instead, they were confiscated for violating the designers’ legally protected trademarks.
“Protecting our economy and the American consumer is our top priority, and counterfeit items undermine both. Our dedicated officers are tirelessly working to combat this issue,” emphasized LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, the Director of Field Operations at the Chicago Field Office. She further added, “We urge you to safeguard your families by purchasing genuine consumer products from trusted retailers.”
Counterfeit goods provide criminals with an additional source of income and a means to launder money, as highlighted by the CBP. The proceeds from the sale of counterfeit products can be funneled towards the production of more fake goods or other illegal activities. This illicit trade is highly lucrative, with criminals capitalizing on the persistent demand for inexpensive goods and minimal production costs.