U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Rochester Airport Port of Entry seized designer watches worth more than $2 million due to trademark infringement.
In July, CBP officers inspected a shipment invoiced as “Used Quartz Wristwatches.” After a thorough examination of the merchandise, the watches were determined to be counterfeit. On August 15, the watches were seized for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) violations. These items had a total manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) value of approximately $2.8 million.
IPR violations pertain to products that infringe upon U.S. trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Other violations can include misclassification of merchandise, false country-of-origin markings, health and safety issues, and valuation issues. These violations can threaten the health and safety of American consumers, the economy and national security.
“Our officers continue to do an amazing job targeting shipments and identifying these violations,” said Rochester Port Director, Ronald Menz. “CBP plays a vital role in protecting consumers and businesses from imported fraudulent items.”
CBP encourages anyone with information about counterfeit merchandise being illegally imported into the U.S. to submit an E-Allegation at https://eallegations.cbp.gov/Home/Index2. The E-Allegation provides a means for the public to anonymously report to CBP any suspected violations of trade laws or regulations related to the importation of goods into the U.S.
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