CrimeJul 02, 2024
Theodore Roosevelt’s Stolen Watch Winds Its Way HomeCrimeJul 10, 2024
US Customs Seizes $10M in Counterfeit Jewelry
Officers intercepted three packages within 24 hours containing fake goods claiming to be from various luxury brands.
Had the packages contained genuine fine jewelry, they would have had a combined retail value of more than $10.1 million.
Louisville, Ky.—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Port of Louisville seized three packages containing fake goods within the span of 24 hours last week.
The packages were stopped for containing items that infringed on designers’ protected trademarks which had been recorded with CBP for border enforcement through the e-Recordation program.
The packages were handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further analysis.
If the jewelry had been genuine, all three shipments would have had a combined retail value of more than $10.1 million.
The first package was halted on July 1, originating from China and heading to a residence in Brooklyn, New York.
It contained 1,466 pieces of jewelry bearing fake trademarks from Van Cleef & Arpels, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Gucci, Tous, Dior, Prada, Versace, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Calvin Klein, Cartier, Chanel, Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch, Rolex, Yves Saint Laurent, and Daniel Wellington.
The retail value of these items would have been over $5.1 million, if genuine.
On July 2, two additional packages were seized, also originating from China. However, they were heading to separate residential addresses in Miami, Florida.
The second shipment contained necklaces, bracelets, and earrings with fake trademarks from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, while the third package contained counterfeit necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings from these brands.
Together, these two packages had a total of 921 pieces of counterfeit jewelry that would have a retail value of nearly $5 million if they were genuine.
Related stories will be right here …
The packages were stopped for containing items that infringed on designers’ protected trademarks which had been recorded with CBP for border enforcement through the e-Recordation program.
The packages were handed over to Homeland Security Investigations for further analysis.
If the jewelry had been genuine, all three shipments would have had a combined retail value of more than $10.1 million.
The first package was halted on July 1, originating from China and heading to a residence in Brooklyn, New York.
It contained 1,466 pieces of jewelry bearing fake trademarks from Van Cleef & Arpels, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Gucci, Tous, Dior, Prada, Versace, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Calvin Klein, Cartier, Chanel, Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch, Rolex, Yves Saint Laurent, and Daniel Wellington.
The retail value of these items would have been over $5.1 million, if genuine.
On July 2, two additional packages were seized, also originating from China. However, they were heading to separate residential addresses in Miami, Florida.
The second shipment contained necklaces, bracelets, and earrings with fake trademarks from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, while the third package contained counterfeit necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings from these brands.
Together, these two packages had a total of 921 pieces of counterfeit jewelry that would have a retail value of nearly $5 million if they were genuine.
“These large seizures illustrate the work our officers do every day to protect our country, its citizens, and the economy,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director of Chicago Field Operations.
“Every day, CBP officers are seizing these fraudulent de minimis shipments sent by bad actors. Criminals are trying to exploit the mail environment by peddling their counterfeit products. Even though this package had a low declare value, they pose the same potential health, safety, and economic security risks as larger and more traditional containerized shipments.”
The three seized packages were uninsured and imported to Louisville under de minimis regulations, also known as “Section 321,” allowing shipments to pass through CBP free of duty and tax, by marking the merchandise as imported by one person on one day with an aggregated fair retail value in the country of shipment of $800 or less.
CBP estimates that nearly 90 percent of shipments coming into the U.S. are claiming the de minimis exception.
With the rise of e-commerce and small packages, CBP says “illegal actors are taking advantage of the unprecedented volume of e-commerce shipments entering the U.S. and the opacity of global supply chains to introduce illicit goods into the country.”
CBP has an educational initiative to raise consumer awareness on the consequences and dangers associated with purchasing counterfeit goods and encourages anyone with information about counterfeit merchandise illegally imported into the U.S. to submit an anonymous e-Allegation report.
More on Crime
The Latest
SourcingOct 23, 2024
De Beers, Signet Lean Into Finding ‘The One’ in New Natural Diamond Campaign Aimed at a generation that emphasizes self-care and mental health, “Worth the Wait” breaks new ground in the world of diamond advertising.
EditorsOct 23, 2024
The Modern Bride’s Approach to Wedding-Day JewelryEditor Lauren McLemore immersed herself in New York Bridal Fashion Week to better understand the role fine jewelry plays on the big day.
Lab-GrownOct 23, 2024
Q&A: Constance Polamalu on Selling Natural and Lab-Grown DiamondsThe jeweler shared her change of heart on lab-grown diamonds and why she keeps them separate from natural diamonds in her business ventures.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
IndependentsOct 23, 2024
Jade Trau Sails OverseasThe New York-based brand is expanding outside of the U.S., with a pop-up shop in London and plans to distribute internationally.
Weekly QuizOct 18, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsOct 23, 2024
See Scott West Jewelry’s ‘Kryptonite’ and ‘Joker’ RingsThey’re available through a retailer that sells luxury products inspired by the lifestyle of Batman’s billionaire civilian persona.
WatchesOct 23, 2024
How to Get a Timex Watch for $1The watchmaker is selling 1,000 “Waterbury” watches for $1 each in celebration of its 170th anniversary.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
SourcingOct 23, 2024
GemFair Buys 10,000th DiamondLaunched by De Beers in 2018, the program aims to develop a responsible sourcing model for the artisanal/small-scale diamond mining sector.
CollectionsOct 23, 2024
Robinson Pelham Releases New Jewels Just in Time for the Holidays The new “Ouche” collection brings sculptural designs to the brand, while the expanded “Daystar” collection brings a rainbow of colors.
AuctionsOct 22, 2024
Phillips to Auction Rare 18-Carat Burmese Ruby The auction house said the gemstone could fetch up to $5.5 million at next month’s sale.
ColumnistsOct 22, 2024
The Smart Lab: Tips for Preparing for Your Best Q4 YetFrom prioritizing the customer experience to optimizing inventory, columnist Emmanuel Raheb shares the keys to a successful holiday season.
Events & AwardsOct 22, 2024
WJA Foundation Names First Winner of Hedda Schupak Scholarship Journalist Priya Raj plans to use the scholarship funds to further her media qualifications and amplify marginalized communities.
MajorsOct 22, 2024
WNBA Champions New York Liberty Take Home Tiffany & Co. TrophyIt marks the first championship win in the team’s 28-year history.
IndependentsOct 22, 2024
Sissy’s Log Cabin To Open Seventh StoreThe Arkansas-based jeweler’s first store in the state’s northwest region is set to open next year.
SourcingOct 21, 2024
De Beers to List Single Country of Origin for Some of Its Diamonds It will start with rough diamonds that are larger than 1.25 carats and later expand to rough diamonds that are above 1 carat.
CollectionsOct 21, 2024
Pandora Turns Things Upside Down in New ‘Stranger Things’ CollectionThe capsule collection is inspired by friendship and connection, with a nod to ‘80s fashion.
AuctionsOct 18, 2024
Piece of the Week: Babe Paley’s Clip-Brooch NecklaceThe New York socialite’s elegant, transformable piece from the 1960s is headed to auction later this month.
Recorded WebinarsOct 18, 2024
Watch: 2 Experts on the Challenges of Appraising Lab-Grown DiamondsTexas jeweler Susan Eisen and NAJA’s Gail Brett Levine discuss how lab-grown diamonds have altered the landscape for jewelry appraisers.
MajorsOct 17, 2024
Retailer Hall of Fame 2024: Gina DrososSignet Jewelers CEO Gina Drosos’ secrets to success are listening to her team and leaning on data to make decisions.
AuctionsOct 17, 2024
Shirley Bassey’s ‘Baignoire’ Breaks Auction Record Part of the Welsh singer’s extensive jewelry collection, the bathtub-shaped Cartier watch went for nearly $72,000 at Sotheby’s Paris.
GradingOct 17, 2024
Renowned Gemologist and Author Alan Hodgkinson Dies at 87 He dedicated his life to researching, writing, and speaking about gemstones in the hope he could inspire others to share his passion.
Policies & IssuesOct 17, 2024
Ethical Gem Fair Returns to BrooklynThe event is slated for Oct. 17-19.
SourcingOct 17, 2024
Gem Legacy Adventures Announces 2025 Trip 12 spots are available for travelers to visit Northern Tanzania and Southern Kenya from July 25 to Aug. 4.
IndependentsOct 16, 2024
Retailer Hall of Fame 2024: Ronald Leitzel and Tonia Leitzel UlshThough they didn’t grow up together, siblings Ronald Leitzel and Tonia Leitzel Ulsh have grown together as co-owners of Mountz Jewelers.
FinancialsOct 16, 2024
LVMH Jewelry, Watch Sales Down 5 Percent So Far This Year Sales slipped 4 percent in the third quarter in an environment the company described as economically and politically uncertain.
SurveysOct 16, 2024
Here’s What the NRF Expects This Holiday SeasonThe U.S. presidential election, inflation, and the aftermath of recent hurricanes could all have an impact on spending.
