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 violations.
On February 10, a shipment that was manifested as “lithium metal batteries/watches” was seized after a thorough examination determined the contents to be counterfeit watches. A total of 25 watches were seized by CBP as they violated Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of the Cartier trademark. Furthermore, CBP officers determined that the watches had a total Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) value of approximately $2.3 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.
“Prior to and throughout the pandemic, our CBP officers continue to protect our economy and consumers from counterfeit goods,” said Rochester Port Director Ronald Menz. “CBP maintains a pivotal role in protecting both the consumer 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/s/. 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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