Fake Wrist Watches And Designer Goods Worth $250,000 Seized At Washington Dulles Airport

DULLES, VA — Customs officers at Washington Dulles International Airport seized 18 counterfeit wrist watches and other fake designer goods from a traveler who'd just arrived on a flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. If the merchandise were authentic, they'd be worth approximately $250,000, according to a release.

During a March 20 baggage inspection, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered a plastic bag inside a suitcase filled with wrist watches, a Louis Vuitton handbag, and Ray Ban sunglasses. Each of the watches had designer names, such as Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, and Rolex.

Suspecting that the items might be fake, the officers held onto them for further investigation and released the traveler, who was identified as a Harrisburg Pennsylvania man, according to authorities.

Trade experts with CBP's Consumer Products and Mass Merchandise Center of Excellence and Expertise examined the watches and notified CBP that the merchandise violated intellectual property rights. The officers then seized all of the items, including the the sunglasses and handbag.

CBP import experts valued the watches, purse and sunglasses at more than $245,000 if they hadn't been counterfeit.

“Counterfeit consumer goods violate United States intellectual property laws, steals revenue from trademark holders, may potentially harm U.S. consumers, and are never a good thing to pack in your baggage if you are heading to a Customs and Border Protection arrivals inspection,” said Daniel Escobedo, CBP’s area port director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C. “Customs and Border Protection remains committed to protecting U.S. businesses and consumers by intercepting counterfeit and potentially harmful goods that help fund transnational criminal groups.”