JAMAICA, N.Y. — On January 16, 2019 CBP officers conducting a routine inspection of a shipment from Hong Kong discovered and seized counterfeit watches worth an estimated manufacturer suggested retail price of $3.7 million, had they been genuine. The seized watches were infringing on the Michael Kors, Rolex, Piguet, Hublot, and Nike trademarks.
“CBP Officers are protecting the American public from various dangers on a daily basis,” said Troy Miller, Director of CBP’s New York Field Operations. “The interception of these counterfeit watches is a direct reflection of the vigilance and commitment to mission success by our CBP Officers daily.”
CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement program, and IPR enforcement is a CBP Priority Trade Issue.
The theft of intellectual property and the trade in substandard and often dangerous goods threatens America’s innovation economy and consumer health and safety, and it generates proceeds that fund criminal activities and organized crime. CBP has established the Truth Behind Counterfeits educational campaign in order to raise consumer awareness about these consequences that can be associated with the purchase of counterfeit and pirated goods. For more information visit www.cbp.gov/fakegoodsrealdangers.
If you have any information regarding suspected fraud or illegal trade activity, please contact CBP through the e-Allegations Online Trade Violation Reporting System or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT. IPR violations can also be reported to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center at https://www.iprcenter.gov/referral/ or by telephone at 1-866-IPR-2060.