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Louisville, KY--U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated on its website that its officers at the Port of Louisville intercepted three shipments containing 2,387 pieces of counterfeit jewelry, including rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings bearing designer trademarks.

[Image via CBP]

CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise identified the items as fakes. If genuine, they would have had a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) exceeding $10 million.

According to the report, the first seizure on July 1 included 1,466 pieces of jewelry imitating brands like Van Cleef and Arpels, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Gucci. Originating from China, the shipment was headed to Brooklyn, New York, and if authentic, it would have been valued at over $5.13 million.

On July 2, CBP officers seized two additional shipments from China destined for Miami, Florida. These contained 921 pieces of counterfeit jewelry, including items from Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels, with an estimated value of more than $4.95 million if genuine.

The report added that all items were seized under CBP’s intellectual property enforcement authorities and handed to Homeland Security Investigations. These shipments were imported under de minimis regulations, which allow duty-free import of goods valued at $800 or less per person per day. Nearly 4 million de minimis shipments arrive at CBP facilities daily, driven by the surge in e-commerce.

LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director of Field Operations at the Chicago Field Office, noted in the report that counterfeit items pose significant health, safety, and economic security risks despite their low declared value.

Learn more details in this report by CBP.