$400K In Fake Luxury Watches Seized In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — More than $400,000 worth of fake luxury watches — including Rolex, Invicta, Rado, and Hublot — were seized at a Philadelphia port recently, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Customs officials said its officers seized 38 designer brand watches Tuesday in Philadelphia that, if authentic, would have a manufacturer suggested retail price of $412,750.

Officers examined the shipment from Hong Kong on Aug. 26.

It was manifested as “P1967 Lithium Ion Batteries in CO,” and was destined to an address in Philadelphia.

Officers suspected the watches to be counterfeit and detained the shipment, which included the Rolex, Invicta, Rado and Hublot brand names.

CBP officers worked with CBP’s Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Centers for Excellence and Expertise, the agency’s trade experts and verified through trademark holders that the watches were counterfeit.

“Counterfeit consumer goods fund transnational criminal organizations, are manufactured in unregulated facilities and with substandard materials that may potentially harm American consumers, hurt our nation’s economy, and steal revenue and brand integrity from U.S. businesses and trademark holders,” said Casey Durst, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office. “Customs and Border Protection will continue to work closely with our trade and consumer safety partners to intercept counterfeit consumer goods, especially products that can harm American consumers.”