Troy A. Miller Commissioner at U.S Customs and Border Protection | Official website
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Louisville recently seized four shipments containing 962 counterfeit designer items, including watches, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. The seizures occurred over two days last week and involved goods from Hong Kong and China. According to CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise, the counterfeit items would have had a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) exceeding $18 million if they were genuine.
The seized items included 459 bracelets with logos from brands such as Cartier, Chanel, Fendi, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Van Cleef & Arpels; 43 pairs of earrings with Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier logos; 20 necklaces with Van Cleef & Arpels logos; and 440 watches bearing the Rolex logo. These goods were intended for delivery to residences in Arizona, Virginia, Florida, and New York. Had they been authentic, their MSRP would have been approximately $18.81 million.
LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director of Field Operations at the Chicago Field Office, emphasized the impact of counterfeit goods on consumers and businesses: “Counterfeit items defraud both the consumer and legitimate businesses. Our officers are committed to diligently working to protect our economy and the American consumer.”
The trafficking of counterfeit goods is a lucrative activity for criminals who use it as a source of income or for money laundering purposes. Revenue from these sales can be used to produce more fake products or fund other illegal activities.
CBP advises consumers to purchase authentic products from reputable retailers to avoid counterfeits. The agency has also launched an educational initiative aimed at raising awareness about the risks associated with buying counterfeit goods. More information on this campaign can be found at https://www.cbp.gov/FakeGoodsRealDangers.
Each year CBP seizes millions of counterfeit items globally as part of its mission to safeguard U.S. businesses and consumers. These include fake versions of popular products like electronics, apparel, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, helmets, medical devices, supplements, among others that pose health risks.
For further details on intellectual property rights enforcement including counterfeiting issues visit the National IPR Coordination Center.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is America's primary law enforcement organization tasked with border management responsibilities involving over 65 thousand personnel ensuring security across various domains while facilitating lawful trade practices enhancing national economic interests.
