Shipment of counterfeit watches stopped by Indianapolis US CBP

 U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Indianapolis’ express consignment facility intercepted a shipment containing 96 counterfeit watches on July 30. Had these watches been genuine, the shipment would have had a combined manufacturer’s suggested retail price of over $4.5 million.

The shipment from Hong Kong was headed to a residence in Ohio when officers pulled the parcel for inspection. The examination revealed 96 watches bearing suspected Swatch, Audemars Piguet and Rolex trademarks. The items were deemed to be inauthentic by CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise, the agency’s trade experts, and were seized for bearing counterfeit versions of registered and recorded trademarks.

“Counterfeit goods are poor quality products that cost U.S. businesses billions of dollars a year while robbing our country of jobs and tax revenues,” said Brett Mueller, Port Director Indianapolis. “CBP officers remain vigilant and are committed to stopping counterfeit smuggling. These interceptions combat the illicit actors and organized crime, and enforcement actions help protect communities from potentially hazardous knockoffs.”