U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Cincinnati seized a shipment of 12 counterfeit watches from Colombia on Feb. 15, according to a Mar. 10 announcement by the agency. The shipment, which was destined for a residence in Los Angeles, would have had a combined Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of more than $279,000 if the items were genuine.
The parcel was pulled for inspection by CBP officers who discovered designer-branded watches bearing counterfeit versions of Rolex, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Tissot, and Invicta trademarks. The authenticity of the items was reviewed by CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise, which determined that the goods were not genuine.
“With the extraordinary growth in e-commerce, it is important to remain aware criminals try to scam shoppers into buying low quality and potentially dangerous counterfeit items,” said Cincinnati Port Director Eric Zizelman. “Our officers do an incredible job targeting shipments and identifying these violations, working tirelessly every day to protect the consumer and our economy.”
Counterfeit goods are considered one of the most profitable transnational crimes. These products are often sold online in response to trends and can negatively affect legitimate U.S. businesses. In addition to watches and jewelry, other commonly counterfeited items include fake medications, perfumes and cosmetics, children’s toys and costumes, fashion products, unsafe electronics, and automotive parts—all of which may pose health or safety risks due to substandard materials.
CBP reported that in fiscal year 2025 it seized nearly 79 million counterfeit items with a total MSRP value exceeding $7.3 billion if they had been authentic. Among the top seized categories were clothing, consumer electronics, toys, and medications.
CBP encourages anyone with information about suspected fraud or illegal trade activity to contact them through their e-Allegations Online Trade Violations Reporting System or by calling their hotline numbers.
