Fake Designer Jewelry, Handbags And Clothing Worth $1 Million Seized At Dulles Airport

DULLES, VA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Washington Dulles International Airport seized more than $1 million in counterfeit designer goods recently, according to a release.

CBP officers stopped two women arriving on an Aug. 8 flight from Doha, Qatar, after finding 806 items suspected of being counterfeit packed into 21 checked suitcases. The women were U.S. lawful permanent residents of Virginia, who were referred for secondary examination to complete their arrival in the U.S. for commercial goods.

The items included designer brand jewelry, watches, clothes, shoes, sunglasses and handbags, which displayed a number of brand names, including Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Gucci, Hermes, Prada, and Versace. The combined suggested retail value of the equivalent authentic items was $1,066,779. The 21 suitcases also turned out to be counterfeit.

After holding the suspected goods for further investigation, CBP officers sent an inventory of the items to CBP's Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising (CPMM), and the Apparel, Footwear, and Textile (AFT) Centers of Excellence and Expertise. The trademark holders of the merchandise were contacted and they confirmed that the items were counterfeit. CBP then seized all 806 pieces on Sept. 29.

“This might be one of the most uniquely large counterfeit goods seizures that Customs and Border Protection officers have seen in regular passenger baggage,” said John Jurgutis, acting Area Port Director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C. “We know that the illicit trade in counterfeit consumer goods steals revenue from American businesses, threatens consumers with potentially unsafe products, and funds transnational criminal organizations, and CBP officers will continue to strike back at this illicit enterprise while protecting American consumers.”