CBP Seizes Counterfeit Designer Jewelry That Would Be Worth Over $4 Million If Genuine

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently seized a shipment of counterfeit designer jewelry that would have been worth more than $4 million if genuine.

CBP officers at an Express Consignment Operations hub in Indianapolis, Ind., recently encountered a shipment from a company in China that contained a total of 148 pieces of knock-off bracelets, necklaces and earrings bearing luxury designers’ protected trademarks.

Officers found 93 bracelets with Cartier logos, 15 necklaces and 15 pairs of earrings bearing Tiffany and Co. logos, 10 pairs of earrings displaying the Cartier logo, nine bracelets with Hermes logos, and 6 bracelets bearing Louis Vuitton logos.

The items, which were headed to a residence in Nashville, Tenn., were seized for infringing on the designers protected trademarks.

The CBPs Centers of Excellence and Expertise, the agencys trade experts, deemed the items counterfeit. Had they been genuine, the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price for the seized items would have totaled $4.62 million.

“Our officers and import specialists have done an excellent job targeting shipments and identifying counterfeit items,” LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director, Field Operations-Chicago Field Office, said in a statement. “CBP protects businesses and consumers every day with an aggressive intellectual property rights enforcement program, keeping the profits from this illegal activity from funding criminal activities.”

CBP is warning shoppers to look for certain red flags to ensure they are purchasing genuine products. The agency advises consumers to stay away from websites that don’t offer customer service contact information, return policies, and legitimate phone numbers. Consumers are advised to purchase items directly from the trademark holder or authorized retailers, and to educate themselves on the prices of legitimate goods, because a price that seems too good to be true often is.