CBP
The amount of counterfeit goods that make their way into the United States is truly staggering. Just last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Louisville, Kentucky confiscated two shipments of fake watches that had they been real would have been worth around $6.6 million.
The counterfeit watches were seized after the CBP Centers of Excellence and Expertise determined that they bore unauthorized versions of Richard Mille, Rolex, Hublot, Cartier, Swarovski, G-Shock, and Patek Philippe trademarks. Both shipments originated from Hong Kong and were addressed to residences in Union City, Georgia and Doral, Florida.
CBP
“For the last three years, the top commodities seized for Intellectual Property Rights infringement with the highest total MSRP have been (1) Jewelry, (2) Watches, and (3) Handbags/Wallets,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated in a press release announcing the seizures. “Additionally, China and Hong Kong are consistently the top two source countries for IPR seizures. In Fiscal Year 2024, seizures from China and Hong Kong accounted for approximately 90% of the total quantity seized.”
CBP
Billions of dollars worth of counterfeit items are shipped into the United States ever year
Counterfeit watches are just one of numerous items that smugglers try and bring into the United States. jewelry, medications, sports memorabilia, and even Labubu dolls are all being counterfeit and brought into the country.
During Fiscal Year 2024, the CBP Centers of Excellence and Expertise reports more than $1.6 billion worth of counterfeit jewelry, $1.4 billion worth of fake watches, and $1.1 billion in counterfeit handbags and wallets have been confiscated after being shipped to the United States. Other top items worth millions of dollars that have been seized are apparel, medications, footwear, consumer electronics, perfumes, and toys.
“Intellectual property theft threatens America’s economic vitality and funds criminal activities and organized crime,” said Director of Field Operations, Chicago Field Office LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke. “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.”