$1.4M Of Counterfeit Jewelry Seized In Philadelphia: Feds

PHILADELPHIA – About $1.4 million worth of counterfeit designer brand jewelry was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Philadelphia recently, according to federal officials.

CBP officers confiscated 269 pieces of the fake jewelry that was shipped from Hong Kong, China to a Philadelphia address on March 6.

Officers initially began looking into the package on Feb. 13 and learned the parcel had various designer brand jewelry of poor quality and packaging, and suspected it to be counterfeit.

CBP authorities submitted samples to agency's Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Centers for Excellence and Expertise and specialists worked with the trademark holders to examine the pieces.

On Feb. 28 officials determined the jewelry to be counterfeit necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and diamond pendants bearing the names Cartier, Chanel, Bvlgari, and Tous.

"Intellectual property rights enforcement is a Customs and Border Protection priority trade issue," said Edward Moriarty, CBP Acting Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia. "CBP remains committed to working with our consumer health and safety partners and seizing counterfeit and substandard merchandise at our nation’s borders, especially those products that pose potential harm to American consumers, workers, and businesses."

Image via United States Customs and Border Protection