Seized: $25m of Fake Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels Jewelry
June 26, 25
(IDEX Online) - US customs officers seized five shipments of counterfeit Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry mostly from China, with a combined "if genuine" value of over $25m.
Almost 2,200 items - rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces - were intercepted by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Louisville, Kentucky, as they arrived in the country.
The first shipment arrived from China on 19 June, heading to a residence in Pennsylvania. Officers seized 318 bracelets with fake Cartier trademarks.
The second arrived the same day from Hong Kong, destined for a residence in Tampa with 490 necklaces, 205 pair of earrings, and 80 rings, all with fake Van Cleef and Arpels trademarks.
Three more shipments arrived from China the following day containing 800 "Cartier" bracelets. Two shipments were heading to a residence in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the other was heading to Michigan.
The 2,193 items were deemed to bear counterfeit marks," the CBP said. "Had these goods been genuine, the five shipments would have had a combined manufacturer's suggested retail price of over $25.32m."
LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director of field operations, Chicago field office, said: "Intellectual property theft threatens America's economic vitality and funds criminal activities and organized crime.
"When consumers purchase counterfeit goods, legitimate companies lose revenue, which can force those companies to cut jobs. Our officers are dedicated to protecting private industry and consumers by removing these kinds of shipments from our commerce."
Pic of a seized Cartier bracelet by CBP.