US Customs Seize Fake Watches and Jewelry "Worth $9.6m"
December 22, 20
(IDEX Online) - Customs officers in the USA seized two shipments of fake brand-name watches and jewlery, with a "genuine" vale of $9.6m.
One of the intercepted packages came from Shenzen, China, and included 171 items, labeled as Versace, Michael Kors, Cartier, Salvatore Ferragamo, Dior, Tiffany, Bulgari, Armani, Hugo Boss, Burberry, Hublot, Patek Phillippe, Audemars Piguet, Louis Vuitton, Fossil, Omega, and Rolex.
The declared value was $315. The actual value, if the items were genuine, would have been $8,419,017, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Cincinnati, Ohio. The package was destined for a private residence in Norcross, Georgia.
The second shipment came through a freight forwarder in Hong Kong and was destined to an individual in West Palm Beach, Florida. This shipment contained 113 counterfeit Cartier bracelets with a total MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price) of $1,170,000, had they been real.
"These large seizures illustrate the work our officers do every day to protect our country, its citizens, and the economy," said Cincinnati Port director Richard Gillespie.
"Our officers are dedicated to preventing counterfeiters from defrauding consumers and legitimate businesses."
Pic shows some of the fake Armani jewelry seized. Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection