Fake Cartier watches with $28 million retail value seized entering US from China

EXCLUSIVE — Federal law enforcement in Chicago seized an international shipment of 200 counterfeit Cartier watches concealed in two packages mailed from China.U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Chicago O’Hare International Airport intercepted two shipments on Sept. 18 that contained 200 lookalike designer watches that, if authentic, would have retailed for $28 million, the Washington Examiner has learned. The packages were sent from Hong Kong, China, and bound for California, but were seized before making it to their final destination on time.The seizure is part of a broader effort by the federal government to stop illegitimate, imposter luxury and brand-name goods from entering the United States and, in turn, cutting off funding streams for global crime rings that use profits to fund other illegal activities. “Counterfeit and pirated products threaten our economic security by hurting legitimate businesses who invest significantly in resources to protect their brands,” CBP’s Chicago Field Office acting Director of Field Operations Michael Pfeiffer said in a statement. “Additionally, these products often pose serious health and safety hazards to the people who buy and use them.”CBP’s Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team seized the watches, and a review by CBP’s trade experts at its Centers for Excellence and Expertise revealed the registered and recorded trademarks on the watches were inauthentic.Cartier has more than 200 types of watches listed online that range from $3,750 to $298,000. CBP shared several examples of the watches it seized, including a realistic-looking square-faced piece that appeared to be covered in fake diamonds.CBP enforces intellectual property rights of U.S. businesses by screening international mail and packages as they arrive in the country.Organized crime groups are often involved in knock-off goods production and distribution, as well as retail theft, as ways to expand their business and grow their profits, according to CBP.“Illegitimate sales are some of the most profitable transnational crimes. Counterfeiters sell inauthentic versions of popular products in response to trends, often through online sources, which adversely impacts legitimate U.S. businesses,” CBP said in a press release. A counterfeit Cartier watch seized by federal law enforcement in Chicago was one of 200 fake watches interdicted in international mail. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) DHS CLAIMS DEPORTATIONS ARE LOWERING RENT. ECONOMISTS AGREEFrequently counterfeited items include medication, perfume, cosmetics, children’s toys and costumes, clothing, jewelry, luxury products, electronics, and automotive parts, which can create a risk for the consumer because products do not face the same health and safety requirements as the authentic versions.Cartier did not respond to a request for comment.