Counterfeit Jewelry Kept Kentucky Customs Agents Busy in January, CBP Says

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Louisville, Ky.—U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officers in Louisville, Kentucky, seized 28 shipments of counterfeit jewelry and watches last month that would have been worth about $27.3 million if genuine.CBP said the shipments of fake designer watches, bracelets, rings, necklaces, and earrings mostly originated from China and Hong Kong and were headed to destinations across the United States. Trade experts from CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise inspected the items and deemed them to be counterfeit. They then were seized for infringing on various brands’ protected 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 LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director of operations for CBP’s Chicago field office. “CBP officers throughout my field offices remain committed to stopping counterfeit smuggling, taking profits from organized crime, and helping protect our communities from potentially hazardous knockoffs.”

CBP said in terms of total MSRP (if genuine), jewelry and watches have ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, for the past three years among the items CBP agents seize because they violate brands’ intellectual property rights.

Handbags/wallets come in at No. 3.

CBP said China and Hong Kong are “consistently” the top two source countries for these goods, accounting for about 90 percent of all IP rights seizures.

The agency offers tips for consumers on avoiding spending money on fake jewelry and watches, including knowing the market value of the item they are purchasing, and buying from legitimate websites that have customer service contact information and return policies.

CBP also points consumers to its Counterfeit Awareness Guide and its The Truth Behind Counterfeits web page.