Officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Cincinnati recently intercepted 11 shipments of counterfeit jewelry. The items, had they been genuine, would have been valued at over $6.96 million. The shipments originated from India, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.
A press release from CBP revealed that on Dec. 1, officers discovered more than 783 pieces of counterfeit jewelry in a shipment from Hong Kong. The imitation items bore the insignia of brands such as Fendi, Versace, Cartier, Christian Dior, and Tiffany & Co., and included bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. Officers inspected the shipment bound for a North Carolina residence after noticing that the package lacked a routing number and was poorly packaged.
Cincinnati Port Director Alrick Brooks stated: "CBP protects legitimate trade practices and recommends shoppers purchase their holiday gifts from reputable websites and businesses." He added: "With the influx in e-commerce, purchasing gifts online can be misleading through third-party sites. We encourage you to be aware and report any suspicious illegal trade activity."
The most significant seizure occurred on Dec. 6 when officers discovered six shipments containing 650 pieces of counterfeit Van Cleef earrings, bracelets, and necklaces that would have been worth over $1.7 million if genuine. On the same day, officers also confiscated a box containing 102 Rolex watches and 20 Gucci belts which would have been valued at over $3 million if authentic.
LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director of Chicago Field Operations for CBP said: "Protecting the American people, our borders, and enhancing economic prosperity is our job here at US Customs and Border Protection." She continued: "Officers are trained to detect shipments containing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) violations, and the officers at the Port of Cincinnati do this job very well. By enabling compliant trade, we are protecting the American consumer and the businesses."
