Customs Seizes $3M in Fake Designer Jewelry, Scarves

Officers found counterfeit jewels and scarves said to be from Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Cartier, Hermès, and more.

Lenore Fedow lenore.fedow@nationaljeweler.com

These counterfeit Louis Vuitton bracelets were among the fake items intercepted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati—U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Cincinnati have seized another shipment of fake designer jewelry, the latest in a line of counterfeit merchandise intercepted in the city.

On Nov. 30, CBP officers seized a shipment of 1,830 counterfeit items that included fake designer jewelry and scarves.

The packaging and poor quality of material tipped off the agency’s trade experts, said CBP in a press release about the seizure.

The scarves, bracelets, rings, and earrings were said to be from luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Cartier, Hermès, Versace, and Chanel.

If the items had been genuine, they would have been worth nearly $3.1 million.

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The shipment originated in China and was heading to a private residence in Flushing, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens.

“In addition to the impact on businesses and the economy, purchasing counterfeit goods carry harmful risks to shoppers,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, director of CBP field operations in Chicago.

“It is vital that consumers be aware of what they are purchasing and know the dangers that may be involved.”

Violations of intellectual property rights are sometimes associated with smuggling and other criminal activities, said CBP, and often fund criminal enterprises.

“As the holiday is approaching, I urge consumers to purchase their gifts from legitimate retailers and websites,” said Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie.

CBP has an educational initiative available online to educate consumers about the dangers surrounding counterfeit goods.