Counterfeit watches worth nearly $2 million have been seized over the past two weeks by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Cincinnati. The 54 counterfeit watches came in two shipments to a local express consignment facility.
The watches, which came from China, would have been worth a total of $1.9 million had they been genuine.
The counterfeit watches were labeled as Audemar Piguet, Rolex, Cartier, and Gucci, but the shipments were manifested as “timers” and “watch,” with listed values of $33 and $200. The packages were addressed to individuals in Jersey City, New Jersey and Mobile, Alabama.
“Legitimate cross-border trade powers the U.S. economy,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie in a press release. “As trade grows at unprecedented rates, our officers are working hard to identify threats and shut down illicit suppliers.”