U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Louisville seized a shipment on July 9 containing 200 counterfeit watches, which would have had a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of over $28 million if genuine.
The shipment originated from Hong Kong and was destined for Illinois when officers selected the parcel for inspection. During examination, officers discovered 200 watches bearing suspected Audemars Piguet trademarks. The items were determined to be inauthentic by CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise and were seized for carrying counterfeit versions of registered trademarks.
“Counterfeit goods are poor quality products costing U.S. businesses billions of dollars a year while robbing our country of jobs and tax revenues,” said Louisville’s Port Director, Philip Onken. “Officers are trained to identify illicit shipments and work diligently for American consumers by stopping the flow of unlawful trade.”
Two weeks prior, Louisville officers intercepted another shipment containing 375 counterfeit Audemars Piguet watches with an estimated MSRP exceeding $54 million. Counterfeiters often respond to market trends by selling fake versions of popular products online, impacting legitimate U.S. businesses. These goods can include fake medications, perfumes, cosmetics, children’s toys and costumes, fashion items, jewelry, luxury products, electronics, and automotive parts that may pose health or safety risks due to substandard materials.
CBP advises consumers to shop from reputable sources as e-commerce sales have increased the volume of small packages imported into the United States. Many seizures occur in international mail or express environments where these packages arrive; such shipments may contain counterfeit goods that carry similar risks as larger containerized imports.
CBP enforces intellectual property rights through its enforcement program to protect American businesses from unfair competition while promoting innovation. Suspected violations can be reported via the Trade Violations Reporting site.