U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Louisville intercepted a shipment containing 160 counterfeit Rolex watches from Taiwan on November 17, blocking $2.57 million worth of fake luxury goods from reaching consumers.
According to the agency, the shipment was headed to a residence in Houston when CBP officers flagged the parcel for inspection. Inside, authorities found 160 fake Rolex Just Date watches displaying protected Rolex trademarks.
CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise, the agency’s trade specialists, confirmed the watches were counterfeit and seized the entire shipment.
“Our CBP officers diligently work to protect honest and hardworking legitimate businesses by targeting and intercepting these fraudulent items,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director of Field Operations for the Chicago Field Office. “We continue to protect our community and the consumer from these unregulated counterfeit items that could potentially cause harm to our economy.”
The agency noted that counterfeit sales are among the most profitable transnational crimes. Criminals manufacture fake versions of popular products to exploit demand, often using online platforms that undermine legitimate U.S. businesses.
These counterfeit goods also pose significant health and safety risks because they are frequently made with substandard or harmful materials, CBP reported.
Authorities added that in fiscal year 2025, the agency seized nearly 79 million counterfeit items with a combined manufacturer’s suggested retail price of more than $7.3 billion. Counterfeit clothing, electronics, toys, and medications were among the most commonly seized products.
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